ESPN analyst suggests surprising WR swap between Packers and Broncos

It's not an NFL eason nearing its trade deadline if there aren't rumors about the Green Bay Packers trading for a wide receiver, right? As the league is three weeks away from the limit to trade players, analysts around the NFL world start to suggest possible deals and evaluate different scenarios. Bill Barnwell, from ESPN, […]

Wendell Ferreira — NFL News Writer

Oct 12, 2023 11:23 AM EDT

Bill Barnwell, from ESPN, wrote a traditional "fake trade proposals" piece, and the Packers are mentioned once. The trade idea is surprising — and unlikely, to be honest.

Packers get: WR Jerry Jeudy, 2024 fourth-round pick
Broncos get: WR Romeo Doubs, 2024 second-round pick

In this case, the Packers would have to send Doubs and a second-rounder, receiving Jeudy and a fourth-rounder. While Jeudy had a high pedigree coming out of college and was a first-round pick, he's had underwhelming production in the NFL. Moreover, Doubs leads the Packers in targets, receptions, and receiving yards over the first five weeks of the season. Read Barnwell's arguments:

Jeudy has shown tantalizing glimpses of potential since being drafted with the No. 15 overall selection in 2020, but injuries and middling quarterback play have cost him significant developmental time. He still averaged more than 2.0 yards per route run last season and is signed through 2024 for a total of just under $15 million, so the 24-year-old has the possibility to be extremely valuable if things break right over the next year-plus.

The Broncos also would land a viable wideout in Doubs, who lacks Jeudy's upside but would add more size to the Denver receiving corps.

Jeudy in fact has much more upside than Doubs and could be a true number one receiver. But there are multiple considerations to make this type of trade. First of all, Doubs has already developed a strong connection with Jordan Love, and Jeudy would have to come in, learn the offensive system (even though he has an idea of that after working under Nathaniel Hackett) and then develop some kind of juice with his new quarterback.

Moreover, Jeudy is a player from the 2020 draft class. That means he's already on the fourth year of his rookie deal, the last cheap one. Next year, he's under contract for the $12.99 million guaranteed fifth-year option. Meanwhile, Romeo Doubs is under contract through 2025, totalling less than $3 million for the remainder of the deal.

If the Packers are able to acquire Jerry Jeudy just for draft picks — for example, a pure third-round pick —, the deal might make sense. He's a young piece, which means he would fit the Packers roster-building timeline, and the upside to be a true wide receiver one is there. He also would be an interesting complement to Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs himself.

However, giving away another young and inexpensive receiver on the deal is counterproductive for the Packers, and there would be little to no motivation for Brian Gutekunst to pull the trigger.

Jeudy is coming from his best NFL season, with 67 receptions for 972 yards and six touchdowns for the Broncos in 2022, even with an abysmal season everywhere else in Denver. This season, he's had 17 receptions for 208 yards. Doubs has been more productive than Jeudy in 2023, with 21 receptions for 228 yards and three touchdowns.

The Denver Broncos might enter a period of complete rebuild. There have been reports stating they would be willing to trade Jerry Jeudy or Courtland Sutton — and basically everyone on the roster besides Patrick Surtain II. The Packers may explore this avenue to get an intriguing piece, but a player-for-player trade is as unlikely as it's questionable for the Packers decision-makers.