Patriots 'Most Interested' Team in Broncos' Jerry Jeudy?
Roll ... Mile High?
The New England Patriots' case to create an Alabama reunion between Mac Jones and Jerry Jeudy gained further momentum in a new report from ESPN's Jeff Legwold. With Jeudy's future unwritten as a May 1 deadline to pick up his fifth-year option looms, Denver has been steadfast in its desire to bring in premier draft picks. The respective deals for franchise quarterback Russell Wilson and head coach Sean Payton have left them bereft of early representation on the upcoming selection board in Kansas City.
As the owners of the 14th and 46th overall selections, the Patriots would be one of the best candidates with whom to barter. Legwold reports that New England is indeed among the primary contenders for Jeudy's services ... and its supposed top competitor in the sweepstakes doesn't have the desired compensation.
"If the Broncos do not reduce their asking price for Jeudy personnel executives believe it’s more likely he now would be traded closer to the draft," Legwold claims. "Cleveland, which does not have a first-round pick, and New England, which has the No. 14 and No. 46 picks, are considered to be most interested in acquiring a receiver."
Cleveland's opening pick, the 12th, now resides in Houston as a result of the Deshaun Watson deal.
If the Patriots truly want to make the Jones era last, dealing away their top two choices for Jeudy may be well worth it: even with Wilson's highly publicized struggles, the third-year man and 15th pick of the 2020 draft posted career-best numbers with 67 receptions, 972 yards, and six scores. Jeudy and Jones previously worked together at Alabama as the latter was being groomed to be the starting quarterback.
Though they spent limited time united on the Crimson Tide's top offense (with Jones replacing the injured Tua Tagovailoa), the two at least went out on a high note at the 2020 Citrus Bowl: facing a ranked Michigan team, Jeudy earned a career-best 204 yards in a 35-16 victory.
New England lost last year's top receiver Jakobi Meyers to Las Vegas have surrounded year three of the Jones era with several new weapons including JuJu Smith-Schuster and Mike Gesicki. Adding a young, legitimate big-play target like Jeudy would be pricy but would likely be one of the most impactful moves they can make to ensure the invest in Jones proves lasting.
Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags
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