Two key Denver Broncos receivers have apparently been seeing interest on the trade market in the leadup to new head coach Sean Payton's first draft with the organization.
ESPN's Dianna Russini reports that Jerry Jeudy and Courtland Sutton have drawn heavy trade interest this offseason. Both are starters on manageable contracts and each can be kept through 2024. At least to this juncture, Russini hears that Denver has turned down trade overtures for the pair.
Jeudy and Sutton were John Elway-era investments, the former arriving as a 2020 first-round pick and the latter joining the team after being selected in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft.
Neither has been consistently productive in the Mile High City, though they have had their moments and flashes. Injuries coupled with Denver’s quarterback situation has made it a rocky developmental path for the pair. Even as the Broncos ranked last in scoring for the 2022-23 campaign, however, Jeudy still managed to rack up 972 receiving yards, with Sutton a short ways behind with 829 yards.
Sutton signed a four-year, $60M extension during the 2021 season; that deal runs through 2025, while Jeudy’s rookie deal runs through 2023, with the Broncos likely to pick up his fifth-year option for 2024. That decision is due by May.
While Denver also rosters receivers Tim Patrick and KJ Hamler, neither would carry the trade value of Jeudy or Sutton. Jeudy, in particular, seems to appeal to other NFL organizations. He reportedly received a fair amount of trade interest last year — the Cowboys made an offer, and the Giants also pursued the Alabama alum — though Paton confirmed both of the team's top receivers have generated varying degrees of interest in the past.
In a mediocre free agent class of wideouts-- and as the Chargers and Bengals have shut down trade talk regarding Keenan Allen and Tee Higgins, respectively -- Denver has the pieces to play trade chess in front of the draft should it so choose.
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