The Denver Broncos are biting the bullet and accepting the consequences of one terrible decision. After Russell Wilson failed to elevate the play of his teammates, Denver decided to cut bait with the veteran and take an NFL-record $85 million in dead cap money just to make the quarterback go away. Knowing that they can’t possibly compete with that type of financial burden, the team also released star safety Justin Simmons to free up some spending money. This team is looking towards the future, and that means they could trade wide receivers Courtland Sutton and Jerry Jeudy for additional draft picks.
We’ve already discussed a potential Courtland Sutton trade, but the Broncos are probably shopping Jerry Jeudy around as well. Originally selected in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, the Alabama product has been a reliable part of Denver’s passing attack despite four years of question marks at the quarterback position. While he’s not as good as fellow fifth-year players Justin Jefferson and CeeDee Lamb, Jeudy can help bolster a passing attack and should have plenty of suitors across the league.
Rebuilding Denver Broncos Could Trade Jerry Jeudy
The biggest question here is what the Broncos could get in a Jerry Jeudy trade. While Jeudy has been a solid option throughout his NFL career, he’s no superstar. He’s also entering the final year of his contract, so any team that trades for him would need to extend him immediately. Additionally, the 2024 NFL Draft class is loaded with talent at the wide receiver position, so teams won’t be willing to give up a high pick for a good-but-not-great player who needs a new contract on top of everything else.
Reports across the league indicate that the Bengals could get a second-round pick for wide receiver Tee Higgins. Like Jeudy, Higgins needs a new contract, as he is currently on the franchise tag. However, Higgins has been a more productive NFL player than Jeudy, so if he costs a second-round pick, then the Broncos could probably get a third- or fourth-round pick in a Jerry Jeudy trade.
Best Team Fits
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots need more reliable wide receivers, and Jeudy is a perfect fit for their scheme. Even with a new head coach and offensive coordinator, New England figures to be a team that focuses on getting the ball out quickly and going down the field on long, sustained drives. Schemes like these need wide receivers capable of getting open within a few seconds of the snap, and that’s Jeudy’s specialty. A Jerry Jeudy trade wouldn’t solve all of New England’s offensive woes, but it would make life a little easier for their next quarterback.
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers have one of the least talented offenses in football, and they’ll need to explore every team-building avenue possible if they want to properly support Bryce Young. A Jerry Jeudy trade is just the first step in building an NFL-caliber offense, but he’d easily be the best receiver on this team. While the results weren’t there, Bryce Young was accurate in the short parts of the field, and Jeudy’s great at getting open in tight areas close to the line of scrimmage.
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills just released several key players just to get under the salary cap. While those losses are tough for the team, they are in a position to quickly recover and get back to their old form. Armed with 11 picks in the NFL Draft, Buffalo should be willing to give up a selection to trade for wide receiver Jerry Jeudy. While Jeudy currently carries a $12.98 million cap hit, Buffalo can dramatically reduce that number by giving him an extension.
New Orleans Saints
Michael Thomas will not be back in 2024, which means that the Saints need to find somebody capable of handling the short and intermediate part of the field. Chris Olave can do a little bit of everything, and Rashid Shaheed is a solid deep threat. However, when Derek Carr’s your quarterback, you need a little bit more than that if you want to make a deep playoff run. Seeing as Dennis Allen is on the hot seat, he might be willing to trade a decent pick for Jerry Jeudy if it means saving his job.
Kansas City Chiefs
On paper, this fit makes all the sense in the world. The Chiefs need more wide receivers, and Jeudy is a clear upgrade on everyone not named Rashee Rice. The biggest hurdle here is convincing the Denver Broncos to trade Jerry Jeudy to the best team in their division. Denver’s going to want to start competing again as soon as 2025, so giving Jeudy to a division rival probably goes against their best interests. However, if the Chiefs outbid the competition, then the Broncos might not have a say in the matter.
Main Photo: David Reginek – USA Today Sports
