After a midseason trade sparked an immediate connection, Trevor Lawrence and Jakobi Meyers are utilizing the full offseason to master route details and anchor Jacksonville’s evolving offense.
The Jacksonville Jaguars traded with the Las Vegas Raiders for Jakobi Meyers, and it didn't take long for him and Trevor Lawrence to build a connection halfway through the season.
Jacksonville traded a fourth and sixth-round pick in this year's draft in exchange for Meyers on Nov. 4. The two parties promptly agreed to a three-year, $60 million contract extension six weeks later, cementing him as a core receiver.
Meyers played the final nine games of the season with the Jaguars and quickly turned into Lawrence's favorite target. He hauled in 42 receptions for 483 yards and three touchdowns on 61 targets.
The 6-foot-2 wide receiver led his group in receptions and targets in his nine-game sample size. Parker Washington Jr. trailed with 33 receptions and 51 targets, but had the most yards (550). Brian Thomas Jr., who missed Weeks 9-11, finished last with 18 receptions on 31 targets.
Lawrence and Meyers formed a formidable duo in a short time. While they connected quickly throughout the season, the offseason gives them more time to hone their skills together.
"Time is something that's important, I think, for building chemistry within your team, but especially for quarterback and receiver," Lawrence told reporters on Tuesday. "I've talked about it a little bit in the past. It was surprising how quickly we clicked in the season, but to have the time now to really go into the details and take our time and get routes after practice."
Although the former Raiders receiver hasn't spent a full year with Jacksonville, he is still familiar with the scheme. Chemistry and continuity have become the most common themes for the Jaguars' offseason.
The team did not suffer much turnover despite losing key contributors, like Devin Lloyd and Travis Etienne Jr. tunning back a majority of the same roster has allowed the Jaguars to have more detail-oriented conversations about concepts and how to counter the defense.
"Obviously, there are a few new pieces, but the majority of us really know it," Lawrence said. "We can focus on talking about all the details of each route and how it's going to adjust versus certain coverages, and then also making tweaks to the concepts and to the plays that we already have, like we've had a handful of things."
An entire summer is ahead for Lawrence and Meyers, who are strengthening their chemistry. Meyers went from the fifth-leading receiver in targets on the Raiders to blossoming into Lawrence's favorite target in his nine games with the Jaguars.
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