Titans' Search For Veteran Receiver Help Apparently Won't Include Broncos

Tennessee's search for wide receiver help in free agency apparently won't include doing any deals with the Denver Broncos. New coach Sean Payton said Sunday at the NFL owners meetings that top pass catchers Jerry Jeudy and Courtland Sutton are not on the market.

PHOENIX, Ariz. — There's no doubt that the Tennessee Titans would like to find some veteran help at wide receiver during free agency if the price is right. It's a position of need for sure, even if the Titans decide to go that way with their No. 11 overall pick.

But one team that doesn't look to be a dance partner any more is the Denver Broncos. Despite their need to acquire some draft capital for next month, new coach Sean Payton said top receivers Jerry Jeudy and Courtland Sutton aren't going anywhere.

"I see and read just like everyone else does," Payton said on Sunday via NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. "Then occasionally, when someone really crowds the plate, I throw a fastball right at their chin, and they back up, and they're like, 'Alright.' And so I haven't thrown any fastballs lately, but we're not trading those two players.

"When people call and the phone rings like it does this time of year, (Broncos general manager) George Paton's job is to pick it up and say, 'Hey. Tell you what, we're not.' And so, we've received calls, you bet. Those are two good football players. But we're in the business of gathering talent right now. Why do people call? Because they know we're void of draft picks and that we might, because there was some discussions a year ago, I think, regarding Courtland. But we like the current group that we're working with."

Denver wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (10) is tackled by Tennessee linebacker Harold Landry III (58) and cornerback Kristian Fulton (26). (Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports)

Last season, Jeudy led Denver with 67 receptions for 972 yards and six touchdowns. Sutton had 64 receptions for 829 yards, but the Broncos went through a brutal 5-12 season in quarterback Russell Wilson's first season in Denver. First-year coach Nathaniel Hackett was fired in midseason, and changes seemed necessary.

The Broncos don't have a first- or second-round pick because of the Wilson trade with Seattle, and they also gave up draft picks to New Orleans to hire Sean Payton. Jeudy is due a fifth-year option in May and trade rumors have swirled around Sutton before. But Payton is apparently closing that door.

Some other doors have closed recently, too. The Titans apparently had interest in former Jacksonville and Detroit wide receiver D.J. Chark, but he is set to sign a one-year deal with Carolina this week.

With the owners meetings going on here in Phoenix this week, it will be interesting where the trade talk going in the receivers market.

Denver wide receiver Courtland Sutton (14) attempts to recover his fumble away from Tennessee cornerback Logan Ryan (26) and linebacker Kamalei Correa (44). (Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports)

Related Titans stories

• BRACE FOR DRAMA AT OWNERS MEETINGS: Welcome to the desert, where the NFL owners meetings are taking place in Phoenix for the next several days. There's sure to be a lot of great conversations with executives from all 32 teams under one roof, and plenty of news to come out every day. It's a good place to be for AllTitans.com publisher Tom Brew. CLICK HERE
• OFFSEASON WORKOUT SCHEDULE: The Tennessee Titans released their offseason workout schedule for 2023 that includes exact dates for the Titans’ first day, organized team activities and mandatory minicamp. Each event on the calendar matters more in 2023 due to the Titans’ circumstances. CLICK HERE
• BYARD DECLINES PAYCUT: The Tennessee Titans approached All-Pro safety Kevin Byard about a pay cut, but Byard refused to take it, per multiple reports. Byard and the Titans now sit at a “crossroads” in regard to his future with the team. CLICK HERE
• TITANS TO SIGN MURPHY-BUNTING: The Titans have addressed one of their other biggest areas of need outside their offensive line with the announcement that they are close to a deal with former Tampa Bay cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting. CLICK HERE