Denver’s hire of Nathaniel Hackett and blockbuster Russell Wilson trade has not led to offensive improvement. The Broncos have run into consistent issues, particularly in second halves, offensively and rank last in scoring through six games. This has invited numerous questions about the team’s plan and produced speculation about the future of Hackett and certain players.
One of those players is Jerry Jeudy, who would be an attractive trade piece for teams seeking to upgrade their wide receiver talent level. Jeudy has not clicked with Wilson, and while he has struggled with drops, the former first-round pick is viewed as a plus route runner. A trade should not be considered out of the question, but Troy Renck of Denver7 tweets the Broncos are not looking to move Jeudy.
Wilson has shown more chemistry with Courtland Sutton (team-high 431 receiving yards) early in his Colorado tenure. Jeudy’s 290 yards, however, are easily the second-most on the team — one battling myriad issues on offense. Sutton signed a $15MM-per-year extension midway through last season and is signed through 2025. Jeudy can be controlled through 2024, via the fifth-year option, but remains tied to his rookie contract.
Beyond this season’s batch of Broncos oddities, Jeudy has not justified his draft slot yet nearly 2 1/2 seasons into his career. Chosen 15th overall in 2020, the Alabama product came off the board behind only ex-Crimson Tide teammate Henry Ruggs among receivers. Selected soon after: CeeDee Lamb, Justin Jefferson. Jeudy led the 2020 Broncos in receiving (856 yards), but the high ankle sprain he sustained in September 2021 led to a disappointing sophomore effort (467 yards, no touchdowns). But the 6-foot-1 pass catcher entered this season firmly entrenched as a cornerstone skill player.
Jeudy’s presence figures to be more important during the rest of this season and in 2023, as he undoubtedly was part of the reason Wilson waived his no-trade clause to be moved to Denver. The Broncos’ hopes of offensive improvement also will require more from Jeudy, with Tim Patrick lost for the season after a training camp ACL tear. But this situation could be one to monitor ahead of the Nov. 1 trade deadline.
The Broncos should be considered likely to move on from Albert Okwuegbunam, however, with Renck adding he would be surprised if the third-year tight end was still on the team after the deadline. Teams have called about the former fourth-round pick’s availability. Okwuegbunam’s blocking has not come around to the Broncos’ liking, and he was a healthy scratch Monday night. Denver drafted UCLA’s Greg Dulcich in Round 3 this year and has used lower-profile tight ends over Okwuegbunam in recent weeks.
Even if the broncos grabbed Lamb or Jefferson it’s not like Wilson would actually throw the ball accurately to them
Were there ever any credible rumors that they might?
I’m not sure that even matters. Anytime an organization comes under new ownership all bets are off regarding continued employment.
True, but even though Paton f’d up in the most impossibly and unprecedentedly Titanic of situations with Wilson and what’s turning out to be a total fart burp of a coach. He’s a really experienced, sharp and hard working dude, he was just egregiously fooled by performance and paper. To ditch him would be a total napalm fail all the way to the general.
I hope they keep him.
Even if Patton is part of the new ownership group’s house cleaning plans, I imagine he will land on his feet elsewhere because there just isn’t a large pool of experienced GMs for teams to draw from.
I’d be concerned with who they replace him with. He’s been way better at drafting talent than Elway.
I imagine the new owner will want to give the Broncos a fresh look and that can’t happen with a yesterdays man like Elway.
Elway had some business ventures that worked in Denver like his dealerships, and some that failed like his laundromat chain.
His record as a GM is kind of the same, but you can’t be so-so as a GM during draft time. You have to nail it a majority of the time.
I believe they’ll move him and Albert O. GM Paton has stated he wants to add to his draft capital. These two players have no future with the team (Wilson’s abilities or lack thereof notwithstanding). Jeudy has more years left on his rookie deal and waiting makes no sense. Neither player adds anything to the offense. Neither can block, Jeudy can barely catch the ball, both are Elway guys. Paton has no connection to them.
Keep Jeudy, trade Hackett.
Leave the gun, bring the cannoli
Small correction: leave the gun, TAKE the cannoli.
That would require someone wanting Hackett.
Broncos country, let’s ride!
Anytime I hear this publicly about a player, they almost always end up traded.
The Seahawks were not looking to trade Russ.
If either of these two don’t play this weekend, they’re as good as traded. The team wouldn’t risk injuries to them if a deal were nearly done. Albert O won’t get any snaps. Real question is JJ.
Unfortunately we’ve seen a lot of Jeudy this year as the broncos have been on way too many prime time games.
Very surprised how he’s been in the league. After his biletnikoff season thought he had star potential.
But every game I see him he has critical drops or makes a bone headed play and just isn’t the game changer a lot of the other young receivers are.
You have to wonder how bad he wants it.
Jeudy has been an underachiever so far. A change in scenery will do everyone some good.
The Broncos won’t trade Jeudy because they can’t. Patrick is injured into next year and they’re not going to get more than what?…a 2nd, 3rd round pick for him?
Given their depth at TE they should see what they can get to draft another WR and THEN trade Jeudy or Kamler if desired.