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He was part of the Chargers' plan to replace Pro Bowl receiver Vincent Jackson, who left the team as a free agent. On March 13, 2012, Meachem signed a four-year contract with the San Diego Chargers worth $25.5 million including a $7.5 million signing bonus. During his five years with the team he had 141 regular-season catches for 2,269 yards and 23 touchdowns he also played in six playoff games and had 14 receptions for 184 yards and a touchdown. Meachem remained with the Saints through the 2011 season. The 2009 Saints went on to win the Super Bowl. The Saints won, 33–30, in overtime to improve to 12–0. In the same game, Meachem caught a 53-yard touchdown pass with 1:19 left in regulation, tying the game at 30. On December 6, 2009, after Kareem Moore of the Washington Redskins intercepted Drew Brees, Meachem tore the ball out of Moore's grasp and ran it for a touchdown. Meachem finished the season with 12 receptions for 289 yards and 3 touchdowns. Meachem ended week 4 with 2 receptions for 99 yards and the Saints got the win over the 49ers. In this game, Meachem had only 2 receptions, his first a 47-yard touchdown grab, his second a 52-yard flea flicker catch with a defender draped all over him. In week 4 against the San Francisco 49ers, Meachem got the chance to see more game time when number 1 receiver Marques Colston was sidelined with a broken thumb. Meachem at the Saints' Super Bowl XLIV victory parade in Downtown New Orleans On September 14, 2008, Meachem caught his first pass in the NFL, a 19-yard touchdown pass against the Washington Redskins. Meachem was once again inactive for the Saints' opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2008. However, Meachem underwent knee surgery and was unable to play in his rookie season. Meachem signed a five-year deal worth $11.3 million in base salary and incentives with $5.71 million guaranteed. With the 27th pick of the 2007 NFL Draft, Meachem was selected by the New Orleans Saints.
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Professional career 2007 NFL Combine Pre-draft measurablesĪll values taken from NFL Scouting Combine Meachem decided to forgo his senior season and enter the 2007 NFL Draft. All this earned him an all SEC, consensus All-American selections. He caught 125 passes and became the sixth player in school history to gain more than 2,000 yards receiving, totaling 2,140 yards (17.1 avg) with 17 touchdowns. In 37 games at Tennessee, Meachem started 15 times. He recorded two solo tackles, gained 16 yards on a kickoff return and 12 yards on a punt return. He led the team with a career-high 71 catches for a school single-season record 1,298 yards (18.3 avg) to lead the SEC, including 11 touchdowns. He ranked fourth in the nation with an average of 99.85 yards per game receiving and ranked 24th nationally with 5.46 receptions per game. He also had six 100-yard games that season. Meachem also totaled 11 scores, a career best. In the November 25 game against Kentucky, Meachem had 116 receiving yards, pushing his total to a new school record of 1265 yards in a single season. Along with David Cutcliffe's return to Tennessee as offensive coordinator in 2006, Meachem, Swain and quarterback Erik Ainge all turned in career seasons. Meachem appeared in all 11 games in 2005, with two starts, and again led the team in receiving yards with 383 on 29 catches (13.2 average) and two touchdowns.Ģ006 was Meachem's breakout year. Meachem's first career reception occurred in the game against UNLV, which was a 35-yard touchdown. Meachem was the only Vols receiver with 100 yards in a game that year. He returned to play in all 13 games (no starts) and led the team with 459 yards on 25 catches (18.4 average) and four touchdowns. Meachem caught 25 passes for 459 in 2004 as a redshirt freshman. Meachem, however, redshirted the 2003 season after suffering a knee injury in preseason practice. He was part of a heralded recruiting class with receivers Jayson Swain and Bret Smith. Meachem attended the University of Tennessee, arriving in 2003.