Jakobi Meyers Emerging as Tom Brady's 'Favorite Target' in Camp

A rookie wide receiver has made a significant impact during the New England Patriots’ training camp. Undrafted free agent Jakobi Meyers—not first-round selection N'Keal Harry—has emerged as the “favorite target” for quarterback Tom Brady.

Julian Edelman is sidelined with a thumb injury, allowing other receivers the chance to shine. Meyers has taken advantage of the opportunity. He has earned reps with the first team offense and could carve a role in the Patriots’ offense in 2019 if Josh Gordon remains suspended indefinitely.

Meyers has made a name for himself in training camp. (Mandy Lane/Boston Herald)

The 6-foot-2, 203-pound former North Carolina State wideout has been the talk of the town during most of the team’s practices. He grabbed 14-of-18 targets in 11-on-11 drills on Monday.

Meyers is a converted quarterback who switched to wide receiver before his sophomore year at N.C. State. He hauled in 92 receptions in 2018—the seventh-most in college football—for the Wolfpack during his senior season.

Not enough people are talking about NC State's Jakobi Meyers (@jkbmyrs5).

He isn't a big separator, but he catches everything. He's a top-5 WR in this class in drop rate and contested catch %.

He's a Jason Avant clone, IMO. Chain mover, sneaky red-zone threat and SO consistent. pic.twitter.com/XuAPGnCz3V

— Austin Gayle (@PFF_AustinGayle) March 30, 2019

Brady praised Meyers for seizing the moment during training camp.

                          

“He’s done a great job and he’s taken advantage of his opportunities,” Brady said. “I think that’s really what we try to stress to anybody. It really doesn’t matter — the football doesn’t care how old you are, whether you were drafted or not. The football doesn’t care how much experience you have. It just knows that when I let that ball go, it’s got to be in the hands of the guy who it’s intended for. If that happens to be him, it’s him. If it’s Julian, it’s Julian. Whoever it is, it doesn’t matter in football.”

Patriots Draft Arizona State WR N'Keal Harry

The New England Patriots selected Arizona State wide receiver N'Keal Harry with the No. 32 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. Harry (6’3/228) is a physical 21-year-old wideout who maximizes his size and athleticism.

Harry addresses a major need for the Patriots, who lost Rob Gronkowski (retirement) and Chris Hogan (free agency) in the offseason. With WR Josh Gordon suspended indefinitely, Harry has the opportunity to make an immediate impact in his rookie season in New England.

The Patriots selected ASU's N'Keal Harry with their first pick of the 2019 NFL Draft. (Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images)

In three years with the Sun Devils, Harry, a two-time All-Pac-12 selection, logged 2,889 receiving yards and 22 touchdowns. He averaged 13.6 yards per reception and caught 85% of his targets. Harry recorded an impressive 7.1 yards-after-catch (YAC) this past season.

#ArizonaState WR N'Keal Harry is a unique player. He's built like a downfield threat as a jump ball guy but he might be the best YAC receiver in the class. He's impossible to bring down because of his frame/strength and his moves and vision in the open field are superb. pic.twitter.com/0TIs8gYPj4

— Evan Lazar (@ezlazar) February 9, 2019

A versatile player, Harry can line up as an outside receiver and in the slot. He is an elite route runner who has great hands.

Good night.@NkealHarry15 | #PatsDraft
pic.twitter.com/jKPKkabsRb

— New England Patriots (@Patriots) April 26, 2019

Patriots quarterback Tom Brady will love throwing to Harry. According to Pro Football Focus, Harry had the third-most contested catches in the NCAAF over the past two seasons and ranked first with a 57.5 contested catch percentage.

Harry is the first wide receiver taken in the first round in the Bill Belichick era. The last time the Patriots picked a wideout in the first round was 1996, when they drafted Terry Glenn with the 7th overall pick. Harry was one of just two receivers selected in the opening round of the 2019 NFL Draft, as the Baltimore Ravens nabbed Oklahoma WR Marquise Brown with the 25^th overall pick.