The Denver Broncos selected Jerry Jeudy, Wide Receiver, out of the University of Alabama. He was the 15th pick in the first round and was the second wide receiver drafted in the 2020 NFL Draft.
Biography
Jerry Jeudy is 6’1” and 193 pounds. He played three at years at Alabama and will be 21 years old at the beginning of the 2020 NFL Season. Jeudy, Alabama’s fourth all-time receiving yards leader, competed with other top receiving talents Henry Ruggs, Calvin Ridley, Irv Smith Jr., Devonta Smith, and Jaylen Waddle for the Crimson Tide.
College Production
Jerry Jeudy broke out at the age of 19 (age during their first season with a 20% receiving dominator rating) in his second season in Tuscaloosa. Jeudy’s best season was his sophomore season at 19 years old. Jeudy had 68 receptions, for 1,315 receiving yards, and 14 scrimmage touchdowns for a receiving dominator rating (average percentage of their team’s receiving yards and receiving touchdowns) of 27.0% (33rd percentile). Jeudy had respectable age-adjusted production. He averaged 914.3 scrimmage yards (82nd percentile) and 8.7 scrimmage touchdowns (88th percentile) per season for an average scrimmage dominator rating (average percentage of their team’s scrimmage yards and scrimmage touchdowns) per season of 11.9% (52nd percentile). Jeudy was very efficient from a yards per reception perspective. He averaged 17.8 yards per reception (89th percentile) with Tua Tagovailoa and Jalen Hurts playing quarterback. Plus, he was extremely efficient within the Alabama offense and averaged 0.99 scrimmage yards per team play (79th percentile).
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Athleticism
[profiler]JerryJeudy[/profiler]
Jerry Jeudy has a respectable height-adjusted speed score of 119.5 (65th percentile) after running a 4.45-second 40-yard time at the NFL Combine. He has a marginally below-average burst score of 119.5 (42nd percentile). Jeudy is known as a route running technician and for his ability to make defenders miss after the catch. Physically, he is a lower BMI wide receiver. Jeudy will need to use his speed and shiftiness to create separation and gain yards after the catch to win at the next level.
NFL Landing Spot
Denver Broncos: The Broncos are one of the better landing spots for any rookie wide receiver. Emmanuel Sanders was traded in 2018 to the 49ers. Sure, they were the 28th ranked offense in 2019 and had one of the lower passing rates of all teams. The post-Peyton era has been bleak, but there is reason to hope. Drew Lock had the highest passer rating of his fellow rookie QBs. Courtland Sutton finished as the WR19, and rookie TE Noah Fant commanded 66 targets. In addition to this young core, the Broncos just added Melvin Gordon. Sutton and Fant alone combined for 38% of the team’s targets, and will likely carve out a similar stake next year. The Broncos devoted the 13th most targets to the running back last season, and that will likely expand with Gordon’s skill set. But behind Sutton there is no presumptive WR2. DaeSean Hamilton was the center of a lot of hype heading into 2019, but with the exception of the last few weeks, largely failed to deliver. Perhaps he can develop some rapport with Lock and deliver on some of that promise, but his grip on the role is loose at best. Tim Patrick showed some flashes and took on an expanded role in the eight games he played in, but profiles as a backup. Keep an eye out for someone the Broncos bring in. They might end up behind Fant in the pass catcher hierarchy, but if this offense continues to grow on last year’s foundation, there should be enough to go around.
Rivals’ Rapid Analysis
Despite low market share numbers, from an age-adjusted production perspective, Jerry Jeudy is a very accomplished wide receiver. He will need to use speed and agility to win against NFL competition. The Denver Broncos invested significant draft capital into Jeudy. He has a high degree of opportunity and will compete with Sutton, Fant, and Hamilton for targets from Drew Lock.
Jerry Jeudy is in Dave’s first wide receiver tier, his WR1 or WR2 depending on where Jalen Reagor lands, and rookie eight or nine overall. Dave would target Jeudy at 1.08 or 1.10 in superflex rookie drafts (mid-first round in single QB). As a rookie, Jeudy will be competing with Fant for the most targets behind Courtland Sutton. There could be a lot of high-quality targets if Drew Lock continues to progress in Denver. Initially, Sutton could limit Jeudy’s fantasy upside. Overall, Jeudy has one of the safer floors among rookie wide receivers. Dave would feel comfortable selecting Jeudy after the quarterbacks and the top four running backs are off the board. Jeudy landing in Denver, in conjunction with Lamb landing in Dallas, makes Jeudy the WR1 in dynasty rookie drafts.
Jerry Jeudy is in Shawn’s first wide receiver tier, Shawn’s WR1, and Shawn’s Overall Rookie Rank 3. Shawn would target Jeudy in the early first round in superflex rookie drafts (Early first round in single QB). Early doesn’t do it enough justice, if you have a top 5 pick in single QB or superflex, you need to be thinking about Jeudy. Sutton was already there, and he is great, but this is an ascending offense with plenty of targets to go around. Jeudy could surpass Sutton as the WR1, he’s that good, but no matter which is the WR1 and WR2, both will see plenty of action as there is effectively no WR2 on this roster pre-draft.
This article was written in collaboration with Shawn Kennedy. For more analysis check out Dave and Shawn’s previous articles at Dynasty Football Factory. Additionally, you can also find Dave’s dynasty superflex rankings at Dynasty Football Factory. Stay tuned for more rookie wide receiver rapid reaction articles from us throughout the entire NFL Draft. We will also give you instant reactions for priority UDFA wide receivers to help you try and find the next Adam Thielen. Interact with Dave and Shawn on Twitter @ff_spaceman and @ff_walrus. You can listen to our rivalry on our podcast @ATaleofTwoRivals with @ff_banterman.
Information found in this article was gathered from @ff_spaceman’s College Prospect Database, PlayerProfiler.com, Sports-Reference.com, AirYards.com, and a prospect’s college team website.
