DENVER — At times during his four seasons with the Denver Broncos Jerry Jeudy has visibly shown frustration with not getting the ball thrown his way.
The receiver will now get a fresh start with the Cleveland Browns and quarterback Deshaun Watson.
The Broncos have in agreement in place to trade Jeudy to the Browns in exchange for one pick each in the 5th and 6th rounds of the 2024 NFL Draft, a source confirmed to 9NEWS.
The trade will become official with the official opening of the 2024 league year at 2 p.m. Wednesday.
The move clears Jeudy’s guaranteed $12.987 million salary for the upcoming 2024 season. The Broncos also save a much-needed $12.987 million in cap space.
This was the third time in the last calendar year that Jeudy was on the trading block. The Broncos didn’t get what they were asking for prior to the start of the 2023 season or at the trading deadline last October. But the team was more determined to move Jeudy and other veterans this time as the Broncos rebuild the core of their roster.
The Broncos in the past six days have also released quarterback Russell Wilson, star safety Justin Simmons, blocking tight end Chris Manhertz and non-tendered defensive lineman Jonathan Harris. The Broncos are also bracing for the possibility they may lose starting inside linebacker Josey Jewell and center Lloyd Cushenberry III to free agency.
Along with cutting Tim Patrick's salary from $9.5 million to $1.125 and converting Mike McGlinchey's salary into pro-rated signing bonus, the Broncos have lopped roughly $49.8 million off their cap since taking on a major dead-cap hit with Wilson's release. They now have about $27.5 million in cap space -- meaning they will have spending power once free agency essentially opens at noon Monday with the legal tampering period.
Jeudy was the Broncos’ first-round draft pick, No. 15 overall, out of Alabama in 2020 – John Elway’s final season as general manager. Jeudy flashed excellence at times, especially in the final six games of the 2022 season. But he didn’t quite meet expectations overall as he never compiled a 1,000-yard or 70-catch season.
Jeudy stats:
2020: 16 games, 52 receptions, 856 yards, 3 TDs
2021: 10 games, 38 receptions, 467 yards, 0 TDs
2022: 15 games, 67 receptions, 972 yards, 6 TDs
2023: 16 games, 54 receptions, 758 yards, 2 TDs
Known for his route running and ability to quickly separate from coverage, Jeudy struggled with drops early in his career. The biggest setback in his pro career was the high ankle injury he suffered in the 2021 season opener on the artificial turf of MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Following a decent rookie year, Jeudy was nearly uncoverable during training camp that year and seemed ready to make a quantum leap in his second season. And indeed he had 6 catches for 72 yards early in the second half of a Game 1 win against the New York Giants.
But Jeudy was carted off with the ankle injury in the third quarter and missed the next six games. He returned for the rest of the season but never had a game as good as he was having in the opener.
Jeudy’s next breakout period came after he returned from a hamstring injury for the stretch run of the 2022 season. In the team’s final six games, Jeudy had 37 receptions for 523 yards and three touchdowns – a pace of 105 catches for 1,481 yards and 8 touchdowns over a 17-game season.
That final stretch moved the Broncos’ brass of Sean Payton and George Paton to pick up Jeudy’s fifth-year option of $12.987 million for the 2024 season.
But Jeudy never did put together a 17-game season of consistent production. This past season, with Jeudy missing the opener because of a hamstring injury, he would get his three or four catches a game for 45 to 50 yards. But that was modest production compared to expectations. In Jeudy’s defense there were times when Wilson seemed to only have eyes for the Broncos’ other top receiver, Courtland Sutton.
The Browns made the playoffs this past season with a surprising 11-6 record despite an early, season-ending injury to Watson. The Browns had the league’s No. 1 defense, allowing just 270 yards per game, and now they have added a weapon to their offense in Jeudy.
The Broncos now have eight draft picks this year – No. 12 overall in the first, none in the second, one in the third and fourth rounds, three in the fifth round and two in the sixth.
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