Insider Report Refutes Sean Payton's Claim About Trading Jerry Jeudy
The trade winds are a-blowin' at Denver Broncos HQ. Despite head coach Sean Payton's denial that the Broncos are looking to move certain players ahead of the October 31 NFL trade deadline, rumors are flooding the wire.
The latest comes from NFL insider Matt Lombardo of FanBuzz, who claims the Broncos have held "internal discussions" on fourth-year wideout Jerry Jeudy and pointed at a few other names of intrigue to watch.
Multiple league sources tell FanBuzz that the expectation is that the Broncos will trade star wide receiver Jerry Jeudy, at some point prior to the Oct. 31 trade deadline.
One high-ranking NFC personnel director says that his team has already "held internal discussions" about a possible deal for Jeudy.
As the Broncos enter Week 6 at 1-4, amid one of the more disappointing starts in the league, it wouldn't be the least bit surprising if players such as Jeudy, defensive end Frank Clark, or others might be made available as Denver eyes a tear-down and eventual rebuild.
Indeed, as the Broncos gear up to take on the Kansas City Chiefs on Thursday night, there have been rumblings that Clark could be on the move. He was ruled out of Week 6's action with an illness and was a non-participant in practice preparations for the Chiefs, his former team.
As for Jeudy, he's had a quiet 2023 campaign thus far after missing the first game. His failure to launch in Year 4 has dovetailed with some public social media spats of Jeudy talking smack with legendary former Broncos, some of whom are from the vaunted back-to-back Super Bowl champion teams of the late '90s.
There are also rumors of Jeudy following other NFL teams and players on social media, like the Carolina Panthers, which serves as a passive-aggressive ploy to create scrutiny on his standing with the Broncos.
At this stage, anything is possible for the soon-to-be 1-5 Broncos. Clearly, the caliber of talent — intangible and tangible — that Payton inherited was overestimated entering his first year as head coach.
The Broncos need a mighty change of heart, and it won't happen any time soon with complaining, cancerous-type 'me' players. The cancers must be excised in order for Payton to rebuild this roster in his image, but such oncological pursuits for team wellness take time.
Giving the Broncos a clean bill of health will require the replacement of veterans, many, if not most, of whom have never experienced a winning season in the NFL. Keep an eye on Jeudy, fellow wideout Courtland Sutton, safety Justin Simmons, and left tackle Garett Bolles.
You know it's a bad situation when viral trade rumors ignite the morning of a gameday when the Broncos are supposed to be focused on taking down a bitter divisional opponent that owns a 15-game winning streak over them. We're all still living in a World of Suck.
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