Broncos Received Offers for WR By Deadline: Opinion

Despite the Randy Gregory trade indicating the organization was ready to make a move, the Broncos had a quiet trade deadline.

The team’s most often touted trade piece remained in place, even though it set a high asking price to even begin talks about Patrick Surtain and Justin Simmons.

Since prior to the 2022 deadline, Jerry Jeudy has been considered as a potential trade component. Weeks into the Nathaniel Hackett–Russell Wilson tandem, the Broncos offense began to tank, and offers for the former first-round pick of the previous season began to flood in. Sean Payton restarted trade talks last offseason, and Jeudy, who attracted interest from the Cowboys and Giants last season, continued to lead that unstable Denver club in receiving with a career-high 972 yards. However, it’s thought that no team has particularly approached the Broncos’ asking price this season. Though they went in separate directions—Cleveland trading for Elijah Moore and New England signing JuJu Smith-Schuster—the Browns and Patriots were reported as spring suitors.

In the weeks leading up to the deadline, that persisted. This summer, Denver placed a first-round price on Jeudy and demanded a second in return for Courtland Sutton. The latter is thought to have led to back-and-forth between the Ravens and the Broncos, resulting in Baltimore signing Odell Beckham Jr. in free agency after a contract was canceled. Sutton was thought to be less likely to be traded than Jeudy, who has been erratic under Payton’s attack, prior to this year’s deadline.

It was thought that Jeudy’s value had decreased this season, to the extent that a third-round pick was suggested as possible payment. Still, the Colts made a query earlier in the autumn. Although it’s unclear if the Broncos received a third-round offer for Jeudy, Payton stated (via Parker Gabriel of the Denver Post) that bids were received shortly before the deadline last week. They proved insufficient to persuade Payton and General Manager George Paton to let go of Jeudy, who is under contract until 2024 with a five-year option.

“We’re not the ones to be interviewed,” Payton said of the trade deadline. “Go ask the people that are purchasing. We’re building and putting a team together. We kind of went through this in the offseason with a handful of players. He’s an important part and important piece of what we’re doing. … Shoot, he’s a guy we think is dynamic.”

The Broncos’ decision to hold out for a higher offer suggests that Jeudy may be subject to trade rumors once again in 2024, when a $12.99MM guarantee will be in place. Jeudy’s contract expires in 2024, so the Broncos will have to decide once and for all what to do with the shifty-but-erratic player. Towards the end of the season, the former Alabama player will have an opportunity to restore his trade value. Jeudy has one touchdown and 336 receiving yards in seven games, which is second on the team behind Sutton’s 380.

Payton added that incorporating second-round rookie Marvin Mims more into the scheme is the plan. Despite playing a part-time position, Mims led the Broncos in receiving yardage for a spell early in the season. The former Oklahoma player is averaging 22.4 yards per catch (11/246), but Sutton and Jeudy have caught up. Nevertheless, Mims had not caught a pass in three games going into the bye week. His offensive snap share is 30%.

But how Mims develops in the second part of the season may ultimately determine the Broncos’ approach with Jeudy and Sutton. The latter is under contract through 2025, but following this season, there are no further promises.