Jerry Jeudy had arguably the worst game of his career on Sunday. Despite the Broncos handily beating the Chargers, Jeudy had two massive blunders, that if it were not for the Chargers Charger-ing, could have cost the Broncos the game. Jeudy dropped a bomb of a pass on one of his first features of the game, and then failed to get his trail foot down on a great pass from Wilson that allowed Jeudy every chance to get his foot down.
Overall, Jeudy's 2023 has been a mess. The 4th year wideout was in the middle of trade rumors before the deadline, and Jeudy has taken a back seat to Courtland Sutton in the passing game. Jeudy has hauled in just 507 yards and one score this season, just a year after putting up over 1,000 all-purpose yards and six scores.
With Jeudy's Broncos tenure potentially taking a turn to the point of no return, here are three AFC teams who could come calling on Jerry Jeudy this spring after the completion of the 2023 season.
1) Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans make the most sense of any AFC team that could be calling in on Jerry Jeudy this spring. The Titans will have a second-year starter in Will Levis who will need more weapons if the Titans have aspirations to compete in 2024. The Titans' receiving core is led by veteran DeAndre Hopkins, who has over 450 more receiving yards than any other receiver on the Titans. Hopkins is now 31 and is on the backside of what has been a strong and dominant career. However, it would be irresponsible to ask Hopkins to continue to defy age and repeat as the only viable receiver on the Titans next year.
Enter Jerry Jeudy. Jeudy would make sense for the Titans for a number of reasons. For one, Jeudy is on a one-year contract following 2023, with a base salary just under $13 million. Jeudy would be nothing more than a rental to a team who has more than the means to give Jeudy a shot. Jeudy would immediately become one of the top targets on the Titans. Hopkins, through 12 games, leads the Titans in receptions with 50. The next closest receiver is tight end Chigoziem Okonkwo who has 35. The next closest receiver is Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, who has 25 receptions.
If the Titans wish to take the load off of aging Derrick Henry, loading up on receivers to accompany Levis' live arm could be a recipe of success for Mike Vrabel and his squad.
2) New England Patriots
A lot has gone wrong for the Patriots in 2023, and arguably nothing has gone right. The Patriots will enter week 15 with the second worst record in the National Football League, with the tie-breaker going to the Cardinals. The Patriots have endured some of the worst quarterback play in football this year, despite Bailey Zappe throwing for three touchdowns against the Steelers last week.
The Patriots do not have a terrible receiving core by any means. The group includes the likes of JuJu Smith-Schuster, Demario Douglas, Kendrick Bourne, and tight end Hunter Henry. However, the group lacks a serious receiving target: a legitimate number one or number two receiver.
The Patriots were reportedly a suitor for Jeudy on multiple occasions, including at the 2023 trading deadline. Jeudy, with another year on his deal, would make a ton of sense in New England. One of the best ways to foster young quarterback play, whether it be with Mac Jones, Bailey Zappe, or any quarterback drafted this year, would be with strong quarterback play.
Jeudy has shown that he can put up 1,000 yard seasons in the right offensive system, despite the current system from Sean Payton dwindling his chances at receptions. Jeudy would immediately become the number one receiver in Boston, could be catching passes from Caleb Williams, and would be a brand new man.
3) Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs might have an issue at wide receiver. Long gone are the days of Tyreek Hill, Mecole Hardman, Sammy Watkins, and Travis Kelce. While Kelce and Hardman remain in Kansas City, most everything else around them has changed. The Chiefs are now a defense first team, and their receiving core is lacking. Excluding Kelce, the tight end, Patrick Mahomes' top targets have been rookie Rashee Rice, then a huge dropoff, Justin Watson, and Marquez Valdes-Scantling. Rice has received 663 yards on the season, a clear step ahead of Watson's 350. Rice is a nice piece in Kansas City, but as Kelce continues to age, it is fair to expect his role in the offense to diminish, and the same with his skills.
Jerry Jeudy would present the Chiefs with an explosive play-making outside threat who can burn with the best of them. Even with his current drop issues, Jeudy would be, at worst, the Chiefs' second-best receiver. If Jeudy were to have a strong season, it would be wise for the Chiefs to extend the former Alabama receiver to continue to grow his relationship with Mahomes into his prime.
If it does not work out, Jeudy is an easy piece for the Chiefs to move on from, and he probably can't provide worse value than Watson has, let alone the likes of a Skyy Moore or a Kadarius Toney. Overall, the Chiefs might make the most sense for Jeudy, and the inverse might be true as well.