On Thursday afternoon just as the Patriots took the practice field in Foxborough, FanBuzz’s Matt Lombardo dropped quite an interesting report out of Denver.
According to multiple league sources, he wrote in a tweet, the expectation is that the Broncos will trade star wide receiver Jerry Jeudy at some point prior to the Oct. 31 trade deadline.
The Patriots should make a call. Here are two easy reasons why:
Rapport with Mac Jones
It’s no secret that New England hasn't surrounded Mac Jones with the appropriate weaponry to succeed as an NFL quarterback through the first three years of his career. Especially this season, when Belichick (probably) thought he was doing what was best for the team by letting Jakobi Meyers and signing JuJu Smith-Schuster instead.
That decision, among others, has resulted in the worst offense in football and has given Jones a receiver group that ranks last in the NFL separation.
Jerry Jeudy can change that.
Not only is the fast, dynamic playmaker a potential matchup nightmare for defenses, but he already has a rapport with Mac Jones. Jeudy and the Patriots quarterback played together at Alabama and were also reportedly roommates at one point during their time in Tuscaloosa.
After letting Jones' former security blanket walk to Vegas this offseason, perhaps now’s a good time for Belichick to grab him one of his old ones.
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Contract, team control
Jerry Jeudy is just 24-years-old and is under contract through the 2024 season. Being a first-round pick in 2020, the Broncos picked up the receiver's fifth-year option and gives him a guaranteed salary of $12.987 million for next season.
I mention the team control of the wide receiver after his fit with Jones because the acquisition would not be a true deadline rental. New England would have Jeudy for next season as well with the chance to lower his cap number and extend him beyond that.
If things continue down the path they are and it doesn't work out here with the current quarterback, then the Patriots would then have a true(r) No. 1 option at pass catcher to pair with whatever young signal caller they choose to give the reigns to next season.
Reports earlier this March from KOA-FM’s Benjamin Allbright in Denver indicated that the Patriots were among teams involved in trade talks for the wide receiver as the new league year began.
They didn’t make a move then, but at 1-4 through five weeks and the season dwindling away, better late than never might be Belichick’s best option to turn this ship around.
Make sure to follow Mike on Twitter @mikekadlick, and follow @WEEI for the latest up-to-date Patriots and Boston sports news!
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