Jerry Jeudy has been one of the most talked-about names ahead of Tuesday’s NFL trade deadline.
The Denver Broncos’ embattled fourth-year receiver has only 27 catches for 336 yards through the first seven games of the season, but could be an interesting target for a playoff contender in need of an offensive spark.
Could that include one of Denver’s most bitter rivals?
The Kansas City Chiefs got a first-hand look at Jeudy’s current form in their 24-9 loss at Denver on Sunday.
The 2020 first-round pick out of Alabama caught just two of six targets, but he did haul in his first touchdown of the season — an 11-yard pass from Russell Wilson in the second quarter to extend Denver’s lead to 14-3. Meanwhile, the Chiefs’ wide receivers combined for 12 receptions for 150 yards — a 12.5-yard average — without reaching the end zone.
Kansas City’s leading receiver by a long shot this season is tight end Travis Kelce, whose 54 receptions are tied with the Chiefs’ three leading wideouts — combined.
The Chiefs are the +450 favorite to be Jeudy’s next team by SportsBetting.ag. The next shortest odds belong Carolina (+600) and Detroit (+625), with Buffalo and San Francisco both at +650.
JERRY JEUDY NEXT TEAM ODDS
Chiefs (+450)
Panthers (+600)
Lions (+625)
49ers (+650)
Bills (+650)
Colts (+675)
Patriots (+700)
Texans (+750)
Titans (+850)
Giants (+900)
Would the Broncos consider sending Jeudy to a division rival? The teams have already split their season series, and Denver is entering its bye week.
Broncos coach Sean Payton wasn’t tipping his hand on Monday.
“We’re not openly or even remotely shopping anyone,” he said. “(Have) people called? Sure, they have. Typically, the buyer wants the media to know they’ve called — not the seller. I’m sure at some point, I’ll meet with (general manager) George (Paton).
“It’s just a matter of what those other teams deem important. It’s hard to predict that.”
The Broncos find themselves in an interesting position ahead of the deadline. Following a 1-5 start that included allowing at least 28 points four times, Denver has won consecutive games while allowing a combined 26 points the past two weeks.
Following the bye week, the Broncos face Buffalo on a Monday night before playing host to the Kirk Cousins-less Minnesota Vikings and the Cleveland Browns, who are dealing with their own injury issue with quarterback Deshaun Watson.
At 3-5, Denver is tied for the second-worst record in the AFC. However, the Broncos are 1 1/2 games behind the current final wild-card spot in the division.
Could their recent form turn the Broncos into buyers instead of sellers?
“This is the hardest time of the year for all the people in the media whose job it is to try to get that information,” Payton said. “Never once would you hear George or I say to any of you, ‘Hey, we’re not interested in selling, but we might be looking at …’ That would be something we’d just fill you in (on) after the fact, but we’d assure you you’d be the first to know after the fact.
“We have those discussions, and we look closely at the roster. Then we look closely not only the roster this year, but the roster as you project out. All those things are important. Typically speaking, we’re past that quarter poll, but most NFL rosters change the most in those first four or five weeks. You’ve seen us add a few players. Some guys go to the practice squad. That’ll continue to some extent.
“There’s nothing to say that we might not be in that business.”
–Field Level Media