The NFL trade deadline isn’t until Nov. 10, but one name keeps coming up for the Cleveland Browns as a player they could send away. That name is veteran wide receiver Jerry Jeudy, who has seen his role shrink considerably this season.

Through four games, Jeudy has just five catches for 62 yards. It’s a big drop-off from what the Browns have seen from him in the past, and it has fueled a lot of the chatter around his future in Cleveland.

Still, Jeudy showed up when Cleveland needed him most against the Pittsburgh Steelers. 

Jerry Jeudy came through late in a key AFC North win

Jeudy finished with three catches for 36 yards against Pittsburgh, and the bulk of his impact came in the fourth quarter. The veteran made his presence felt on a couple of clutch drives for the Browns, including a long 17-yard grab in the AFC North battle.

Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson spoke recently about the veteran’s approach in the receiving room and how he stayed ready for his moment. 

“That’s something that we don’t forget about Jerry. Jerry’s been around,” Watson said. “He’s been a leader. He’s been that vet in that receiving room, making sure all the young guys are staying on task. And then whenever his opportunities come, he takes advantage of it.”

And those opportunities came, and he made some great plays at the end, and he was ready for those. That’s what vets do. Sometimes, depending on the game plan and the way the game goes, you might not get too many opportunities. We only have one football, so we try to spread it around as much as possible. But whenever your opportunities come like he did, he took advantage and helped us win.”

Watson’s assessment is accurate. Cleveland doesn’t win that game without Jeudy’s play in the fourth quarter. As a result, the Browns are sitting at 3-1 going into a Week 5 game against the New York Jets.

Browns rookies have taken over the passing game

Jeudy is in his third season with the Browns, and he started off hot in Cleveland. Back in 2024, he racked up 1,229 receiving yards and four touchdowns while playing at a Pro Bowl caliber level.

Last season, his production fell off to 602 receiving yards. This season, he has taken a clear back seat to rookie wide receivers Denzel Boston and KC Concepcion. Both rookies have been very good so far, and they’ve quickly earned the trust of the offense.

Along with tight end Harold Fannin Jr., Boston and Concepcion are clearly the top pass catchers on the team. That leaves Jeudy in a much different spot than the one he held two seasons ago, when he was the go-to option in the Browns passing attack.

Jeudy’s future in Cleveland remains up in the air

The Browns very well could trade Jeudy before the deadline. With two rookie wideouts producing and a tight end commanding targets, Cleveland has the depth to make a move if the right offer comes along.

However, it’s not a bad thing to have a veteran in the room you can count on. Watson made it clear he believes in Jeudy, both as a leader for the young receivers and as a player who can step up late in games. That kind of reliability carries value for a team sitting at 3-1 in the AFC North race.

Even if he isn’t getting the ball often, expect Jeudy to remain involved in the Browns passing attack. Whether that continues past Nov. 10 is the big question.