Browns appear to be unlocking a new NFL star, and trading Amari Cooper to the Bills opened the door for it to happen
Ever since the Browns traded Amari Cooper to the Buffalo Bills, it has allowed wide receiver Jerry Jeudy to become a breakout player in Cleveland just like they had planned. Cleveland always saw the vision with Jeudy, who they traded for last offseason, then handed a three-year contract worth more than $52 million. At the […]
Ever since the Browns traded Amari Cooper to the Buffalo Bills, it has allowed wide receiver Jerry Jeudy to become a breakout player in Cleveland just like they had planned.
Cleveland always saw the vision with Jeudy, who they traded for last offseason, then handed a three-year contract worth more than $52 million. At the time, some folks scoffed at the contract but now it is looking like a steal.
After another big game against the Pittsburgh Steelers Thursday night in the win, Jeudy is well on track to eclipse 1,000 yards receiving in a season for the first time in his career. Jeudy was once again big for the Browns against the Steelers with six catches for 85 yards.
“The attributes of a number one receiver is to get open, be able to make plays after the catch. Look at Jerry Jeudy. If you look at Jerry Jeudy and you see the things that he does,” Browns QB Jameis Winston explained after the game. “He gets open. He runs after the catch, and he fights for the football.”
Jeudy has recorded at least 70 yards in four straight games for Cleveland and he had 142 yards last week against the Saints. The former first-round pick is showing he is a problem and that he can be a top option for the offense.
“Jerry was really good,” head coach Kevin Stefanski pointed out after the game. “Early on I felt like he was going to have some opportunities then the conditions became a bit of a challenge and then you’re there and you need him in the fourth and he came through.”
Winston becoming the quarterback and really opening the offense a lot more has an impact on this too, but the biggest change for Jeudy is he now has the opportunity. With Cooper gone, Jeudy is undoubtedly the team’s top pass-catching threat, and they are using him as such.
“Like early in that, maybe it’s a third drive, he caught an in-cut with, I think 24 (Joey Porter Jr.) was all over him, draped all over him and was strong through the catch,” Stefanski pointed out. “That’s really good to see from Jerry because we know he can wiggle open, he can run away from people, but when you can make those contested catches, you become a very difficult guy to cover for the defense.”
Jeudy is now up to 645 receiving yards with six games remaining. His career high of 972 receiving yards in a season should be a number he easily passes.
While this is likely a lost season for the Browns, there is still a lot to gain. Figuring out future roles for players is key and it is evident that Jeudy is going to have a major one.
Steelers’ George Pickens threw major shade at the Browns in a predictable way after Cleveland beat Pittsburgh
The Browns got the last laugh here.
