The Denver Broncos are in the midst of finalizing their big board with the NFL Draft less than a week away.
The 2020 class is loaded with talent at the wide receiver position, and the Broncos could look to draft one in the first round.
The Broncos currently own the No. 15 pick in the first round of the draft, although rumors have swirled that they could look to move up to draft a wideout possibly.
One player the Broncos could target is Alabama wide receiver Jerry Jeudy.
Positives:
Jeudy was a dynamic receiver within Alabama’s offense, playing both outside and in the slot. Jeudy’s versatility will transition to the NFL, as he is capable of playing across the field in a variety of different schemes.
During his sophomore season, he ranked third in the FBS with 14 receiving touchdowns, hauling in 68 passes for 1,315 yards in 15 games. While Jeduy’s touchdown total dropped slightly in 2019, he was still one of the most productive wideouts in all of college football.
Early in his collegiate career, Jeudy was a deep threat but transitioned to a volume receiver in his junior season. Jeduy’s skillset improved every season in college, and he logged 24 touchdowns in his last 28 games.
Aside from possessing great quickness, Jeudy is a phenomenal route runner who is elusive and capable of hitting double moves to stretch the field.
Jeudy has long arms that help him against double coverage and with making contested catches. At 6’1″, he has the size to succeed against larger cornerbacks in the NFL. That said, Jeudy’s size does not hinder his speed and agility.
Overall, Jeudy is a dynamic, all-around receiver that is sure to make an impact wherever he is drafted.
Negatives:
Jeudy possesses tremendous potential, but there are some areas he needs to improve upon.
While his 6’1″ height is not a problem, his 192-pound frame is somewhat concerning. Jeudy would be wise to bulk up before his first NFL season, given the talent jump from the college ranks to the NFL. Adding a few more pounds would help Jeudy against the physical, press coverage he will see when he gets to the professional level.
Jeudy also had trouble with dropped balls throughout college. The drops were not because of a lack of talent, but rather a lack of focus, which is another area Jeudy has struggled with. Jeudy’s natural ability was able to mask some of his mental hiccups in college, but that will not bet the case in the NFL.
Additionally, Jeudy scored a 9 on the Wonderlic test, which makes him illiterate by the test scoring standards.
Via WonderlicTestPrep.com:
“A person who scores 10 is considered illiterate. A Wonderlic score between 10-20 is a poor score but it doesn’t mean that the person is not suited for any job. It only means that the person is not qualified for the advertised job, but he can get a less intellectually demanding job like a guard and so on.”
Jeudy’s score was the lowest among the 2020 receiving class.
WR Wonderlic Scores:
Michael Pittman 29
Bryan Edwards 28
Chase Claypool 27
Brandon Aiyuk 23
Henry Ruggs 20
Justin Jefferson 19
Denzel Mims 17
KJ Hamler 15
Laviska Shenault 14
Jalen Reagor 13
Cee Dee Lamb 12
Van Jefferson 12
Tee Higgins 11
Jerry Jeudy 9
as per @BobMcGinn#NFLDraft— First N Goal (@First_N_Goal1) April 15, 2020
The results of the Wonderlic test tend to have little bearing on how a player’s professional career plays out, but are relevant nonetheless.
Lastly, Jeudy played within a loaded offense while at Alabama, so some surround his ability to be a No. 1 receiver from the get-go. That said, numerous Alabama receivers, like Amari Cooper and Julio Jones, have gone on to have tremendous careers despite similar concerns.
Verdict:
Jeudy looks like he is going to be an incredible player on paper. The Alabama product is physically gifted and has the skillset to be an impact player the moment he steps on the gridiron. The Broncos already have a No. 1 receiver in Courtland Sutton, so the prospect of adding Jeudy is intriguing, given that he can learn the ropes as a WR 2 to start his career. He has the intangibles to be one of the best wideouts in the NFL, but it is only natural to question how he will respond at the professional level after thriving in college football’s best program. Overall, Jeudy would be an excellent fit for the Broncos young, budding offense.
Player Comparison: Odell Beckham Jr.