Denver Broncos wide receiver Jerry Jeudy has found himself as the subject of trade rumors for well over the past calendar year.
These rumors will continue to pick up steam with less than two weeks to go ahead of the NFL trade deadline and the Broncos sporting a disastrous 1-5 record.
In talking to the media on Thursday ahead of Denver’s Week 7 matchup with the Green Bay Packers, Jeudy touched on the rumors. He was not subtle in his response.
“It don’t affect me at all because at the end of the day I’m still going to be the player I am. I know what I can do and I know what I’m capable of. So trade me or not trade me, it don’t matter because at the end of the day I’m going to still be me,” Jeudy told reporters.
The former first-round pick out of Alabama has been on the receiving end of criticism for his inconsistent play. Most recently, NFL legend Steve Smith Jr. called him out ahead of last week’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs.
These comments are unlikely to sit well with the Broncos’ organization. He didn’t commit to wanting to remain with the Broncos and pretty much dared them to move him.
- Jerry Jeudy stats (2023): 20 receptions, 222 yards, 0 TD, 68% catch rate
Jeudy, 24, opened his career with a splash after Denver made him a first-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, recording 52 receptions for 856 yards. He also tallied nearly 1,000 yards and six touchdowns a season ago. Despite this, the youngster has not lived up to the expectations that came with being relied on as a potential No. 1 receiver.
Related: Jerry Jeudy and other NFL players on the trade block
Will the Denver Broncos trade Jerry Jeudy ahead of deadline?
In his first year as the Broncos’ head coach, it seems that Sean Payton now has control of their 53-man roster and personnel decisions.
“Sean Payton may be the head coach, George Paton may be the GM, but the balance of power has shifted in that organization to Sean Payton,” NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported recently. “He’s got the juice right now. And whether or not you think that’s a good thing, that’s how it is. So understand that, and then you can understand the framework in terms of how Denver’s going to operate at this trade deadline.”
Denver exhausted a first-round pick and change in trading for Payton with the New Orleans Saints this past offseason. It has become clear that he has control over player personnel matters after Denver traded away edge rusher Randy Gregory earlier in October and released fellow edge guy Frank Clark this week.
At this point, no one outside of Payton appears to be safe when it comes to the Broncos. This includes a player in Jeudy who has not taken off in the head coach’s offensive system.
It’s now going to be all about what other teams are willing to offer up for Jerry Jeudy. Denver was said to be demanding a first-round pick this past offseason. That’s not going to be the cause leading up to the NFL trade deadline.