King: Broncos WRs Sutton, Jeudy Likely 'Aren't Going Anywhere'
Less than 48 hours until the 2023 NFL draft — i.e. the chokepoint in potential trade talks — Denver Broncos starting wide receivers Courtland Sutton and Jerry Jeudy remain likely to stay put, NBC Sports' Peter King reported Monday.
"I think it sounds like Jerry Jeudy and Courtland Sutton aren’t going anywhere, unless a team blows Denver away with an offer for one of them," King wrote in his latest column. "I don’t expect that to happen."
Sutton and Jeudy have been fixtures in unrealized trade speculation throughout recent months — to the extent that new coach Sean Payton was forced to address the situation head-on, refuting interest in either's departure.
"We're not trading those two players. ... we're in the business of gathering talent right now," Payton said in March.
The drumbeat since has been the same: Denver is open to listening, and may even relent, for the right price. But only their price: reportedly a first-round pick for Jeudy and a second-rounder for Sutton, whom the Broncos (as the scuttlebutt goes) nearly sent to Baltimore before backing out of discussions.
General manager George Paton took a more direct approach regarding Jeudy, saying in last week's pre-draft press conference that "we don't anticipate doing anything with him." Paton, however, did not confirm the club would exercise Jeudy's fifth-year option, the deadline for which is May 2.
"We like Jerry. He’s going to be here," he offered.
Fortunately, resolution appears nigh. If the Broncos are to strike a WR trade, it should happen no later than Saturday, the final day of the draft.
If it doesn't, it won't.
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