The latest London game will feature two 2-5 teams — one of them set to debut a rather odd uniform combination — and lacks the appeal the Giants-Packers matchup brought. But Sunday’s Broncos-Jaguars meeting figures to have a major impact on next week’s trade deadline.
As the interest in Jerry Jeudy persists, the third-year Broncos wide receiver is now viewed as available, according to ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler. An initial report indicated the Broncos were not planning to trade the former first-round pick, but interest may be developing to the point the franchise is prepared to follow through.
KJ Hamler and Melvin Gordon are two other Broncos who have also drawn some interest, per ESPN’s Dan Graziano. Bradley Chubb joins them. Chubb and Jeudy would bring back the most in returns, but Gordon and Hamler have each been three-year contributors in Denver. The Broncos’ disastrous start has piqued teams’ interest re: trades, with Fowler adding teams believe Denver GM George Paton is willing to deal multiple players.
Chubb and Jeudy might carry similar value; Day 2 draft capital is likely required to pry either from the freefalling Broncos. But the latter is believed to be close with Russell Wilson and would stand to be a considerable asset in Wilson’s second Broncos season. Jeudy, 23, is three years younger than Chubb and would profile as a cheaper complement to Courtland Sutton and Tim Patrick, who each signed extensions during the 2021 season.
Providing slot ability Sutton and Patrick lack, Jeudy has flashed at points during his Broncos tenure. Injuries have, however, limited the Alabama alum, who arrived in Denver before Paton. John Elway‘s final first-round pick as GM, Jeudy has also seen the Broncos’ struggles at quarterback limit him. A team eyeing the 6-foot-1 pass catcher would stand to believe it can unlock more from a player who can be controlled on his rookie deal (via the fifth-year option) through 2024. Jeudy’s contract enhances his value, even if his production has come in below draft-class peers Justin Jefferson, CeeDee Lamb and Tee Higgins.
The Broncos chose Hamler in the 2020 second round, but injuries and inconsistency have defined his career. An ACL tear and hip injury in Week 3 of the 2021 season kept Hamler out to the point the Broncos sat him in an early-season game this year. But the Penn State-developed deep threat has played in six games this season. Jeudy’s 386 receiving yards are second on the team; Hamler is only at 113 (on five catches). The latter’s trade value will be considerably lower.
Gordon, 29, has not seen eye-to-eye, usage-wise, with embattled HC Nathaniel Hackett. Whereas Hackett has run into trouble on most fronts, Gordon’s fumbling problem has led to his reduced standing. Since Gordon signed a two-year, $16MM Broncos deal in 2020, he has fumbled 11 times. No other running back in that span has put the ball on the ground more than nine times. Javonte Williams‘ injury did not lead to a full-time Gordon role, with Latavius Murray — signed off the Saints’ practice squad — soon taking over as Denver’s primary back. This has led to frustration from Gordon, who has still started the past three Broncos games. He is averaging 3.5 yards per carry this season. The two-time Pro Bowler did combine for 20 touchdowns during his first two Broncos slates.
The former Chargers first-rounder re-signed on a one-year, $2.5MM deal that includes a $2.15MM base salary. Gordon joins Cam Akers and Kareem Hunt as prominent backs who could be moved before the Nov. 1 deadline. Gordon might be dealt regardless of the Broncos’ result against the Jaguars, joining Albert Okwuegbunam in that regard. But Denver’s outing against Jacksonville might determine where high-profile cogs like Jeudy and Chubb finish the season.
A regular deadline seller in recent years, Denver has traded Demaryius Thomas, Emmanuel Sanders and Von Miller since 2018. The Wilson trade also stripped Denver of its first- and second-round picks in 2023. Will the team make a move to recoup Day 2 value?
I am beating a dead horse here, but trading Jeudy would be the worst thing Denver could do. Gordon? Sure, he’d likely welcome a new start and, other than the fumbles, can still play. But if getting rid of a high potential first round pick with time left on his rookie deal is the last thing that the Hackett regime is responsible for on its way out, Broncos fans will not be happy. And rightfully so.
Also, just because Hackett can’t use Hamler effectively doesn’t mean that he can’t be useful.
Yeah, Jeudy would have to net a very significant return. He’s never quite lived up to expectations, but he’s never had a good QB and offense to make that happen. But absolutely trade Gordon, and while I’ve always been enticed by Hamler, it’s fine to trade away a disappointing role player who has a hard time staying healthy and only has another year of control. Might as well get back some picks.
Jeudy is the first player I’m dealing. He’s an absolute bust who can’t stay healthy and drops way too many catchable balls. I’d also deal Chubb to the highest bidder.
I could care less what Russ thinks about me trading Jeudy… play better and live up to your contract and then I’ll consider his opinion.
Lastly, of course deal Gordon and Hamler for whatever you can get for them. Evaluate young talent the rest of the season. 2022 is done.
Bust? In what world? Jeudy is a starter, and either the most targeted or second most targeted receiver on the team in any given contest. If you deal Jeudy, you are going to be picking his replacement-and how many Day One starters are going to get, let alone one who runs good routes and has top end speed? Jeudy has dropped a few passes. Jeudy is not a bust.
Denver will trade young talent on their rookie contracts…so that they can then hopefully pick more up talent on their rookie contracts.
Jeudy certainly hasn’t lived up to the expectations of a 1st round pick. Granted he’s got plenty of time to figure it out, but as of right now he’s certainly closer to a bust than being a solid pick.
This must be some new definition of bust that I’m not familiar with. Jeudy does have drops. That I do agree with. I also think it would be wise to note the lack of direction in the team on offense for the last five or so years. Who’s been throwing Jeudy the ball? Who’s been calling and/or scheming the plays? Jeudy may not be a top receiver, but he certainly is not a bust.
And, if he is dealt to another team, he will likely be a much better receiver because of the organization around him. Denver would be watching and hoping that the replacement that they will inevitably pick will be as good. You look at the picks that Denver will get from these proposed trades, and what they will use them on. There would be a lot of replacements, and there’s no guarantee that those players will be even as good as what they have now. Sideways trades are not how teams progress. Denver needs to make it work with Jeudy, not give up on him so soon.
Deal Jeudy. Deal Chubb. Deal Hamler. Deal Gordon. You’re not signing any of them to long term deals. None of them have proven anything and none of them are leaders on the team. Jeudy can pound sand, yes, he has nifty moves, but he’s got terrible hands and can be replaced easily with any number of WRs in the draft (pick a round). No surprise that Chubb has shockingly managed to stay healthy in his contract year, but let’s remember how many games he’s missed due to injury. No thanks. Let some other team overpay him. He’ll be on the IR half of next year. Hamler is a joke who will be out of the league in two years and Gordon will be out in a year with his ridiculous fumble-itis. Had the Broncos not come to his rescue this past offseason, he’d have been a street FA at the start of the season.
Hamler can go. Always hurt. Then when he plays he whines and complains. Later.
The Broncos need to look beyond where they drafted these guys and evaluate their actual effectiveness on the field. Neither Hamler nor Jeudy can reliably catch a football, and Chubb is too injury-prone to take a big contract risk on. While they are at it they should be trying to get rid of Sutton, as a guy that makes that kind of money needs to be playing like Davante Adams, not River Cracraft.