Jerry Jeudy’s trade value for Broncos just skyrocketed after Chiefs trade
Denver Broncos general manager George Paton has received calls on a number of the star players on his roster, including former first-round wide receiver Jerry Jeudy. The perception from many in Broncos Country has been that this has been another year of struggling for Jeudy, but that’s simply not the case.
The reality is, Jeudy has been the Broncos’ best weapon in the passing game so far this year with 16.1 yards per reception, two touchdowns, and a lower drop rate than Courtland Sutton, who has led the team in targets through seven games. Jeudy proved his value to the offense against the New York Jets when he was basically the only one out there making plays. Fans still seem to blame Jeudy for dropped passes that happened two seasons ago, which is extremely odd.
Jerry Jeudy’s trade value has increased substantially
The Broncos are not likely to have a “fire sale” regardless of the outcome of their game on Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Could there be some moves made? Absolutely. A Bradley Chubb trade could make some sense. Trading Albert Okwuegbunam after making him a healthy scratch two weeks in a row also makes sense. Rumors have been swirling regarding Jerry Jeudy and KJ Hamler as well, but the right package would need to come along for the Broncos to make that kind of a deal.
And the right package or the right offer could come along the closer we get to the 2022 NFL trade deadline. The Kansas City Chiefs just made a (very annoying) trade to acquire former New York Giants first-round pick Kadarius Toney. The price to acquire? The Chiefs paid a 3rd-round pick as well as a 6th-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
In case anyone thought the Broncos would sell low on Jerry Jeudy, you have your answer right here. Of course, supply and demand play a role, but there are plenty of teams out there needing wide receiver help. If Toney — who has done absolutely nothing compared to Jerry Jeudy in the NFL and only has one additional year on his contract — went for a 3rd and a 6th, Jerry Jeudy is going to be costing at least a 2nd and then some.
And the Broncos should hold out for nothing less than that. Just like with the Bradley Chubb situation, the Broncos really have to question whether or not Jeudy is in their long-term plans. George Paton didn’t draft him, and while that doesn’t mean he necessarily has to trade him, he may not view him in the team’s long-term plans, or perhaps Jeudy is just not the ideal fit for the offense.
Considering how easily Jeudy gets open as a receiver, that is really more of an indictment against the offense than anything else, but Jeudy could thrive in more of a spread-out type of offense where he can get the ball quickly and in space more frequently. The Broncos simply aren’t affording him enough of those chances, and haven’t since he was drafted in 2020.
With all of that being said, the very interesting aspect of all of this that hasn’t really been talked about is what the perception of Russell Wilson would be if he doesn’t have Jeudy in the fold. Courtland Sutton has struggled, Tim Patrick is on IR, and KJ Hamler’s role in the offense is even less defined at this point than Jeudy’s.
Is it really about to be Sutton, rookie tight end Greg Dulcich, and guys like Kendall Hinton and Brandon Johnson as Russell Wilson’s top targets in his first year in Denver?
If George Paton can get proper value for Jerry Jeudy — which would be at least a 2nd-round pick — then it just might be.