Why has Jeudy been a bust for the Broncos?
KIZ >> It’s no longer a question if Jerry Jeudy has been a first-round draft bust for the Broncos, but why he has failed to become an impact player in the NFL. In a Denver offense we all agree is short of big-time playmakers, a major reason for the lack of explosiveness is that Jeudy too often performs like a possession receiver who’s also ineffective at finding the end zone. What has gone wrong? And how much of the blame for Jeudy’s shortcomings should we place on coach Sean Payton or quarterback Russell Wilson?
GABRIEL >> Environment is always going to have an impact on the production and performance of players in the NFL, but Jeudy’s put up somewhat similar numbers since he got drafted regardless of whether the offense was run by Pat Shurmur or Nathaniel Hackett or Payton, quarterbacked by Drew Lock or Teddy Bridgewater or Wilson. Maybe all that turnover has something to do with it. But at the end of the day, it’s always mostly about the player himself. And Jeudy has not been able to match his upper- echelon talent to upper- echelon production, minus a five-game blitz to close last year, during which he looked like a real No. 1. This year, he’s tracking toward the worst per-game stats of his career and is on pace to finish with 55 catches for 714 yards after 856 as a rookie and 972 last year.
KIZ >> For the vast majority of a must-win game in Denver’s long-shot bid for the playoffs, the Broncos seemed to forget Jeudy was on the team, much less in the offensive huddle. When you consider a head injury forced Courtland Sutton to the sideline early on Christmas Eve, it’s almost unfathomable to me that Jeudy wasn’t even targeted for a single pass against the Patriots until a little more than nine minutes remained in the fourth quarter. How can a receiver known for his ability to get open so totally disappear?
GABRIEL >> Great question. Especially after Sutton went out, it felt like time to forcefeed No. 10 the ball. And the way Bill Belichick’s defense pressured Wilson throughout the night — 21 pressures, per Pro Football Focus, and five sacks on 42 drop-backs — it seemed like an outing tailor-made for Jeudy’s route-running and ability to create separation quickly. Instead, Wilson didn’t even get the ball in his general direction until the final quarter. Payton knows how to call an offense that relies heavily on one guy — he did it for years with Michael Thomas in New Orleans. Neither Sutton nor Jeudy is prime-thomas, of course, but while Sutton has taken a step forward this year, Jeudy has not.
KIZ >> In his fourth pro season, Jeudy hasn’t progressed, he’s regressed. Dallas receiver Ceedee Lamb, drafted two slots after Jeudy in 2020, has 29 touchdown catches in 64 games compared to Jeudy’s 10 in 55 appearances for Denver. But here’s what I find more concerning: Jeudy’s pedestrian stats this season are more comparable to Giants receiver Darius Slayton, taken with the 171st pick in the 2019 draft. I was optimistic the offensive genius of Payton could help Jeudy shine. Now I wish the Broncos had traded Jeudy when they had the chance. What’s his future in Denver?
GABRIEL >> That’ll be one of the most interesting non- quarterback questions of the offseason, Kiz. Jeudy’s under contract for $12.987 million guaranteed thanks to the fifth year of his rookie deal. That’s not a bad number — nowhere near No. 1 receiver money — and it might make him more attractive as a trade option. The Broncos could keep him, too, but they’ve also got Sutton ($17.3 million) and Tim Patrick ($16.21 million) at big cap numbers at the top of the room. They held firm on high asking prices for Sutton and Jeudy last offseason, but there’s no way they’re going into 2024 with those three taking up $46.4 million on the salary cap. Sutton’s an extension candidate, or they could try to sell high. Patrick’s a wild card after not playing for two seasons. Maybe a re-worked, prove-it deal? Feels like a fresh start might be best for Jeudy and for Denver, but what price is the team willing to accept?