Broncos' Jerry Jeudy NFL trade odds: Colts, Bills, 49ers, Chiefs favored to acquire receiver in expected Denver fire sale

To say things have not gone well for the 1-5 Denver Broncos in the first year of Sean Payton's tenure is quite the understatement Reading all the tea leaves and reports out of the Mile High City, that the team will be a major seller – not a term often used in the NFL – ahead of the Oct. 31 trade deadline. Atop the list of players expected to be shipped out is receiver Jerry Jeudy, a 2020 first-round pick. SportsLine offers odds on his next potential team.

The 1-5 start is tied for the worst in franchise history (1967). It's also the worst start in Payton's career. Payton has improved the offense moderately, but the defense is a true trainwreck. The unit is allowing a league-high 33.3 points per game. Yet even when the defense plays well, it hasn't mattered. Denver held the Chiefs to 19 points at Arrowhead Stadium on Thursday night in Week 6 yet still lost by 11 as Russell Wilson reverted to 2022 form. The Broncos have allowed opponents to score fewer than 20 points in 12 games since the start of last season and are only 4-8 in those outings. They are 1-point home underdogs this Sunday vs. Green Bay.

In a way, the Broncos already have begun their teardown. They've released Frank Clark and traded Randy Gregory to the 49ers. Those are still two capable pass-rushers, although Clark hadn't done much this season after signing a one-year, $7.5 million free-agent deal in June. Frankly, the only untouchables on the roster right now might be stellar young cornerback Patrick Surtain II and Wilson, if only because Wilson's contract is all but untradeable. His 5-16 record is the worst by a Broncos starter in team history (minimum 20 starts).

Denver is currently positioned to select third in the 2023 NFL Draft, and you know Payton would like to get his hands on a young QB like Caleb Williams or Drake Maye to take over for Wilson, perhaps after next season. Incidentally, the Broncos have never owned the first pick of an NFL Draft. They may not be able to get it this year, but trading off good players will only help for '23 draft positioning.

Jeudy was the No. 15 overall pick three years ago out of Alabama. He was spectacular in college and some compared him to another former Bama star wideout and likely future Hall of Famer in Julio Jones, but it has never clicked for Jeudy. Injuries have been a problem and so has his quarterback play. Jeudy's best season was last year, when he played 15 games and caught 67 passes for 972 yards and six TDs.

That led the Broncos to pick up his fifth-year rookie option in May, which guarantees Jeudy a salary of $12.99 million in 2024, but that reportedly has become a sticking point in some trade talks because Jeudy is not playing like a $13 million receiver. He only has 20 catches for 222 yards and zero touchdowns. He missed part of the 2021 season due to an ankle injury and also banged up his knee earlier.

Denver has been asking for a first-round pick in return, which is a pipe dream. Teams also called the Broncos about Jeudy and fellow wideout Courtland Sutton last season (Sutton also might be a goner by Halloween), but GM George Paton wanted to keep both to see how the offense fared under Payton.

Every possible playoff contender in the NFL could use a wideout like Jeudy. The Chiefs might have been on the top of this list before they brought back wideout Mecole Hardman in a trade with the Jets earlier this week, but it's still a position of need.

The Colts have lost starting QB Anthony Richardson for the season but might be better off for 2023 with veteran Gardner Minshew under center as he's a much better passer. At 3-3, the Colts very much are contending in a rather weak AFC South. Indy and Denver have reportedly spoken about Jeudy. After Michael Pittman and rookie Josh Downs, the WR group on the Colts is quite wanting.

San Francisco is all-in for the Super Bowl and both top wideouts, Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk, have suffered injuries this season with Samuel very much in question Monday night in Minnesota. The Broncos and Niners already made the Gregory trade.

Buffalo's current No. 3 receiver is Khalil Shakir, a 2022 fifth-round pick with four catches on the year. Jeudy obviously would be a massive upgrade there. New England reportedly was among the teams with the most interest in Jeudy this offseason, and boy does Mac Jones need something.

Carolina wants receiving help for rookie QB Bryce Young, but why would a winless team – without its 2024 first-round pick; owned by Chicago – give up draft compensation for Jeudy when the Panthers are a few years from contention? Houston wants help for rookie QB C.J. Stroud and at 3-3 also is contending in the AFC South thanks to Stroud's spectacular play.

Via SportsLine oddsmakers: Which team will Jerry Jeudy be playing for after the Oct. 31 trade deadline (if not the Broncos)?

• Colts +400
• Bills +450
• 49ers +500
• Chiefs +600
• Giants +700
• Titans +700
• Patriots +800
• Texans +800
• Lions +900
• Panthers +1000

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