HENDERSON, Nev. -- Two days after playing against Jacksonville, wide receiver Jakobi Meyers is a member of the Jaguars.
Granting the veteran's wish, Las Vegas Raiders traded away Meyers in exchange for a fourth-round pick and a sixth-round pick in the 2026 NFL draft.
During training camp, Meyers expressed a desire to be traded due to contract negotiations that did not go as planned. Before their bye week, Meyers reiterated that he still wanted to be traded.
For the Jaguars, they address an immediate need at the position after rookie wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter suffered a knee injury last week in practice. Wideouts Dyami Brown and Brian Thomas Jr. were injured Sunday during Jacksonville’s overtime victory over the Raiders at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas now owns eight draft picks in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Meyers finishes his time with the Raiders after hauling in 191 passes for 2,186 yards and 12 touchdowns in 38 games.
The seventh-year pro, who set career highs in catches (87) and yards (1,027) last season, had a team-high 33 receptions for 352 yards this year.
The trade signifies that a rebuild could be coming for the 2-6 Raiders, as they can look toward the future by adding new talent. It also opens up opportunities for younger players on Las Vegas' roster to perform during what's been a troubling season.
With Meyers gone, younger receivers like Dont’e Thornton Jr. and Jack Bech will be expected to step up.
Bech, who was selected in the second round out of TCU, will likely step into the primary slot position.
"It's got to be multiple guys," offensive coordinator Chip Kelly said. "Jakobi was such an impact player for us, so I wish him the best. He was a great practice player, and I enjoyed coaching him.
"(We have) some other receivers, they're going to have to pick it up, and then you move on. The way you look at it sometimes, as we have to approach it. It's like a player got hurt, he's out of a game, then what do you do? It's the next guy's up. So, (veteran Tyler) Lockett and Bech and Dont'e and those guys will have to step up, and we'll go from there."
Long-term, the decision to trade Meyers reflects a shift towards a strategy that focuses on developing younger players rather than retaining aging players, and allowing the Raiders to invest in future talent while addressing the team's current needs.