Just before the start of the 2025 season, the Raiders' top wide receiver decided he wanted out.
Las Vegas refused Jakobi Meyers' trade request, however, and that was that. Given the chance to speak on his surprise decision Wednesday, Meyers was refreshingly candid in his explanation.
"I asked, they said no. That's where that stopped," Meyers said with a laugh. "I mean, I'm just going to keep doing my job until something shakes out either way, honestly. I don't know which way it's going to go, but I'll be ready for whatever."
Despite being flatly denied by the Raiders, Meyers didn't seem interested in maintaining his stance with the season opener on Sunday against the New England Patriots just days away. If anything, he's begrudgingly playing for the Raiders because it's where he's employed -- and where he has a chance to prove himself again in 2025.
"It's a job," Meyers said. "At the end of the day, I'm happy to be doing my job with my boys, but I can be happy anywhere."
Las Vegas' receiving corps was incredibly thin in 2024 following its midseason decision to trade Davante Adams to the New York Jets, leaving Meyers as the Raiders' obvious best option at the position. He turned in a career year, catching 87 passes for 1,027 yards and four touchdowns, positioning himself as strongly as possible to negotiate a contract extension.
So far, Meyers and the Raiders haven't made much progress on a new deal. With the season arriving, Meyers knows he'd only cost himself future dollars by digging in, so he might as well hit the field and prove he's worth more money with his play.
"I'm ready to go if you need me to go; I'm ready to play if you need me to play," Meyers said.
Often, these situations are complex, and progress is slow. Meyers has accepted that perhaps now isn't the best time to cash in and is instead embracing the opportunity in front of him.
