Jerry Jeudy. Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Browns signing named one of the riskiest of free agency

Originally posted on Gridiron Heroics | By Matt Lombardo | Last updated 3/28/24

The Cleveland Browns needed to do something at wide receiver ahead of a pivotal 2024 season with Deshaun Watson at quarterback and the organization seemingly at a crossroads, but it’s hard to look at trading for Jerry Jeudy as anything but a gamble.

In a best-case scenario, Jeudy and Amari Cooper wind up becoming a dynamic duo of big-play threats that help Watson and the Cleveland Browns keep pace in a loaded AFC North that includes the likes of Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson as two of the NFL’s more prolific quarterbacks.

But, The 33rd Team lists the Browns’ Jeudy trade as one of the riskiest moves across the NFL this offseason, so far.

“It’s a gamble that Jeudy will play better in a loaded offense with a quarterback in his own make-or-break season,” Ian Valentino writes for The 33rd Team. “Jeudy was in the final year of his rookie deal, worth just less than $13 million so that money was rolled into his extension.

“The deal could be a great value if Jeudy can live up to the expectations he entered the league with as a dominant playmaker at Alabama.”

Jeudy has caught 211 career passes for 3,053 yards with 11 touchdowns through his first five seasons. The Cleveland Browns are obviously banking on a change of scenery bringing out the best in him.

Not everyone is convinced Jeudy has more upside than he’s shown in the NFL.

“The consistency hasn’t been there for Jeudy to be more than a borderline WR2,” Valentino explains. “It’s a forward-thinking move, but sometimes these risks don’t work out. Considering Cleveland’s tight pockets in coming years, the Jeudy deal could look exceptionally costly if he’s not a clear difference-maker in 2024.”

This article first appeared on Gridiron Heroics and was syndicated with permission.

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