New England Patriots: Jakobi Meyers could be the answer at WR

New England Patriots undrafted receiver Jakobi Meyers appears ready to make a major impact in his rookie year.

Aside from veteran Julian Edelman, the New England Patriots have nothing but questions at the wide receiver position. Veterans like Phillip Dorsett, Demaryius Thomas and Maurice Harris are in the mix, but they all likely have limited upside going forward.

First-round rookie N’Keal Harry certainly has plenty of upside, but he has not been a consistent performer throughout training camp. If any rookie is going to come in and make a major immediate impact, it will likely be undrafted training camp star Jakobi Meyers.

Meyers converted to wide receiver from the quarterback position in college and grew into a first-team All-ACC player by his senior season. He is a smooth and efficient route runner who knows how to create space against zone and man. Meyers also shows strong hands, consistently catching the ball away from his body and turning upfield quickly to create yardage after the catch.

The NC State rookie has continually made plays throughout training camp and is proving to be a valuable addition to the Patriots’ offensive attack. With so few established weapons at Brady’s disposal, if Meyers can continue to show out in camp, he has a real chance to lock down a major role in the offense.

In the Patriots first preseason game against the Detroit Lions last Thursday, Meyers continued to shine on the field. He was a consistent target in the middle of the field for veteran backup Brian Hoyer and rookie Jarrett Stidham, piling up six receptions for 69 yards and two impressive touchdown catches.

Meyers proved that he can compete against NFL defenders, creating space against opposing defenders and showing the ability to make catches in traffic. The New England Patriots have holes at the wide receiver position that will be filled by someone. It will always be an uphill battle for an undrafted rookie, but Meyers has put himself in a great spot to compete for legitimate playing time in the regular season.

It will be interesting to see if Meyers can build a rapport with Brady in the preseason. If he can continue to make plays when the legendary quarterback gives him a chance, the sky is the limit for the undrafted rookie.