Browns Set To Acquire Broncos WR Jerry Jeudy For Multiple Picks
The Browns checked one offseason need off their list before the new league year even began.
According to multiple reports, the Browns have a deal in place to acquire Broncos wide receiver Jerry Jeudy in exchange for a fifth and sixth round pick in this year's upcoming NFL Draft. While the trade has been agreed upon and finalized it cannot become official until the start of the new league year at 4 p.m. on Wednesday.
Cleveland had been linked to Jeudy previously, both last offseason and at the traded deadline back in November but a deal never materialized for the Alabama product. With the Broncos now in the midst of a transitional period under head coach Sean Payton, the interest remained from Browns' general manager Andrew Berry and the two sides got a deal done less than a year later.
Jeudy comes to Cleveland in the final year of his rookie deal, the fifth year option year of his first contract after being drafted by Denver 15th overall in 2020. The Browns will consume a $12.9 million cap hit upon officially acquiring his contract next week.
Over the last two weeks Berry had restructured the contracts of top CB Denzel Ward and just yesterday, left tackle Jedrick Wills to get back underneath the $255 million salary cap by about $12 million. Accounting for Jeudy's contract, more restructures could be on the way in the coming days for the Browns, in order to execute some of the free agent plans they may have.
Jeudy comes to Cleveland with an opportunity to earn a big pay day next offseason if he emerges as a key contributor in the Deshaun Watson reclamation project the Browns are hoping to see come to fruition. He joins a wide receiver room headlined by fellow Alabama product and South Florida native Amari Cooper, along with the speedy Elijah Moore and youngsters David Bell and Cedric Tillman.
In 2023, the 24-year-old hauled in 54 passes, for 758 yards and two touchdowns in 11 games with Russell Wilson primarily throwing to him. His most productive season came one year prior when he put up career highs in receptions (67), yards (972) and touchdowns (6).
