Colts Urged to Trade for Talented Broncos Wide Receiver
It's still the thick of the NFL Free Agency period, and oftentimes for the Indianapolis Colts, that means it's time for trades.
Most recently, they traded cornerback Stephon Gilmore to the Dallas Cowboys for a fifth-round pick. However, Pro Football Focus has suggested that the Colts also make another trade for an incoming player, bringing in Denver Broncos wide receiver Jerry Jeudy.
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
Fix: Trade for Jerry JeudyAccording to reports, Denver’s entire wide receiver room appears to be on the trade block as new head coach Sean Payton returns to the strategy of making Russ cook pre-prepared meals rather than giving him free rein to throw together a pickle and ice cream salad.
The Indianapolis Colts are going to draft their future quarterback in the first round, but that player is going to need an upgrade to a receiver group that has been too reliant on Michael Pittman Jr. since he joined the team.
Pittman has caught 70.5% of the passes thrown his way in the NFL but generated just 1.62 yards per route run over the same time. Jerry Jeudy is an elite separator, particularly against man coverage, and he can operate from the slot or out wide. He brings a lot of the skills that complement the weaker areas of Pittman’s game and would be a force multiplier within this offense.
Drafted with the 15th-overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft out of Alabama, Jeudy (6'1", 193, almost 23 years old) was considered a nearly can't-miss prospect.
However, injuries (missed nine games in last two years), ball security issues, and inconsistent quarterback play have led to an underwhelming start to his career, which makes him a player primed to potentially flourish in a new environment. He's not the only Broncos receiver who's been mentioned in trade rumors over the last year, though as Cortland Sutton and KJ Hamler have also been mentioned as potential trade pieces.
Through three seasons, Jeudy has started 33-of-41 games, catching 157-of-269 targets for 2,295 yards (14.6 avg.), and 9 touchdowns.
The Colts have a pair of quality starting outside receivers in Michael Pittman Jr. and Alec Pierce, but the departure of free agent Parris Campbell leaves them without a slot receiver, which duties Jeudy could fulfill.
Indianapolis is also expected to use their first-round pick on a quarterback, so surrounding him with as many weapons as possible is a good way to ease him into the NFL.
A big factor that muddies the water is the contract status of both Pittman and Jeudy. Pittman is entering a contract year while a decision on Jeudy's fifth-year option must be made by May 1. Both players signing extensions with the same team for significant money is unlikely.
The Colts have nine picks in the upcoming draft that they could use to acquire Jeudy; one each in the first four rounds, three in the fifth, and two in the seventh.
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