Denver Broncos fans get reminder that trading former first-round pick Jerry Jeudy was necessary

Denver Broncos fans get reminder that trading former first-round pick Jerry Jeudy was necessary originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Denver Broncos used their first-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft on Alabama wide receiver Jerry Jeudy, passing on the likes of CeeDee Lamb and Justin Jefferson to get him. The move backfired in so many ways.

Though Jeudy showed flashes of talent, he was never worthy of a first-round pick and though he could have been a serviceable player for the team, his rotten attitude made that irrelevant. During the offseason ahead of the 2024 season, the Broncos were able to trade him to the Cleveland Browns for a fifth and sixth-round pick in the 2024 draft.

It always takes time to determine whether a trade was a good move or a bad move for the organization, but the Broncos moving on from Jeudy will always be the correct call, regardless of what the return was. Those attitude issues resurfaced this past Sunday during the Browns' loss to the San Francisco 49ers.

Jeudy and Shedeur Sanders had an exchange on the sideline that looked very much like Jeudy chastising the rookie quarterback, who was making just his second career start, for missing a throw. That prompted former NFL player Emmanuel Acho, on The Speakeasy podcast, to have some words for Jeudy, which were all correct.

This is the same guy who just was never happy in Denver and had the attitude of one of the best wide receivers in the league, even though he never came close to playing like it. Teams will forever have a difficult time winning with players like this.

The Browns will be the next team to move on from Jeudy; that idea has already been tossed around in Browns circles as many within the fanbase are sick of him, the same way many in Denver were.

Jeudy has put together a respectable career if you look at the stat sheet. But he also has a major problem with drops, to go with being a poor teammate. Everything that former All-Pro wide receiver Steve Smith said about him was completely accurate.

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This is not the kind of player you want on your team. The Broncos found that out quickly and the Browns will likely come to that same realization soon.

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