The NFL trade deadline (Oct. 31) is approaching, and many pundits believe the Denver Broncos could be sellers ahead of the deadline.
Broncos coach Sean Payton has insisted the team is not actively looking to trade players, but coaches often say that even when the opposite is true. That’s not to say Payton is definitely lying, but it’s hard to take coach speak at face value leading up to the trade deadline.
Payton’s public comments haven’t stopped teams from reaching out to the Broncos about potential trades, and Denver has already dealt outside linebacker Randy Gregory to the San Francisco 49ers.
Broncos Wire put together lists of five players Denver should and should not trade, and one of the biggest names to watch is wide receiver Jerry Jeudy.
Jeudy, 24, is a talented player, but he hasn’t quite lived up to his first-round hype with the Broncos, and he’s one of their most valuable (realistic) trade assets (cornerback Pat Surtain isn’t going anywhere).
Jeudy has said he’s not worried about trade rumors, but Denver moving him to acquire more draft capital seems to be a very real possibility. Here are the latest updates on Jeudy’s trade status from recent days.
1
'Extensive' trade talks with Colts?
Sources have told me that the #Colts and #Broncos have had extensive trade discussions about a deal that would send WR Jerry Jeudy to Indianapolis.
No deal has been finalized or agreed to at this time but this has progressed beyond exploratory conversations. pic.twitter.com/IZceuHf6Pe
— Destin Adams (@TheDestinAdams) October 19, 2023
Destin Adams of AtoZ Sports reported Thursday that the Indianapolis Colts have held “extensive” trade talks with the Broncos about Jeudy.
2
Denial of Colts trade talks
According to multiple sources, this is completely false. Absolutely zero truth to this. https://t.co/iRNavPkDOT
— Zac Stevens (@ZacStevensDNVR) October 19, 2023
Zac Stevens of DNVR Sports reported that the Adams report was “completely false,” citing multiple sources. Those sources are likely from the team side, but that’s just speculation. Stevens said the Adams report had “absolutely zero truth,” but other reporters have contradicted that statement.
3
A 'dozen teams' have called about Jerry Jeudy
It's my understanding that the Colts have called (as have a dozen teams).
However, terming anything "extensive talks" would be false per league source. https://t.co/WlWG7jCdB6
— Benjamin Allbright (@AllbrightNFL) October 19, 2023
Benjamin Allbright of KOA Radio reported that the Colts — and 12 other teams — have called about Jeudy, but Indianapolis hasn’t had “extensive talks” with Denver. Allbright cited a league source.
4
Colts reached out to the Broncos, right?
Different things floating around linking Colts to Jerry Jeudy: Nothing to it.
Per source, Colts called Broncos a few weeks ago on several players, including Jeudy and that was it.
Also, Colts may now be sliding toward sellers not buyers with QB Richardson on IR. #9sports— Mike Klis (@mikeklis) October 20, 2023
Mike Klis of 9News reported this morning that the Colts reached out to Denver a few weeks ago when they acquired about several players and “that was it.” Klis did not give an indication as to what kind of source he was citing, but it seems safe to guess it was a Broncos team source.
5
Wait, did the Broncos actually start the conversation?
Many of you have asked me about the Colts and Broncos WR Jerry Jeudy ahead of the trade deadline. Here is what I was told by multiple sources: The Broncos called the Colts, not the other way around. Denver has made numerous calls to teams, I’m told. In fact (more)
— Stephen Holder (@HolderStephen) October 20, 2023
Stephen Holder of ESPN has reported that it was actually Denver who initiated Jeudy trade talks with Indianapolis. “Denver has made numerous calls to teams, I’m told,” Holder tweeted Friday. “In fact, the Broncos have contemplated moving him for quite a while (going back to last season).”
This contradicts what Klis reported. Holder cited “multiple sources” and his information seems to include intel from multiple teams, so Holder’s reporting might be more accurate if it’s not being fed from just one team.
6
So where does that leave us?
While it’s unclear whether it was the Colts or the Broncos who initiated the trade talks between them about Jeudy, it is clear that they at least had some discussions about a potential trade. The odds of Jeudy landing in Indianapolis seem slim, but they are a team to watch leading up to the deadline.
Regardless of whether the Broncos are making calls or fielding calls about Jeudy, it’s clear that the receiver has come up in trade talks.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported Friday that teams are “torn” on Jeudy’s worth in a trade. “[M]ultiple execs [said] they couldn’t justify a Day 2 pick for him at this stage, though two others said a late-third-rounder might suffice based on Jeudy’s ability,” Fowler wrote.
Fowler also reported that “the feeling league-wide is Jeudy is more likely to be dealt than Courtland Sutton, though the Broncos would at least listen on either.”
With the trade deadline now less than two weeks away, it certainly seems that Jeudy is on the trade block. What’s not certain is what Denver would be able to fetch in a trade, and which team is the favorite to get a deal done. This story will continue developing in the coming days and we’ll be tracking all of the latest updates on Broncos Wire.
