Getty Head coach Mike McCarthy of the Dallas Cowboys.
The Dallas Cowboys may find their No. 2 wide receiver via trade.
The Cowboys could find an “elite” separator in Denver Broncos wide receiver Jerry Jeudy, according to Blogging the Boys’ Dan Rogers.
Jeudy, 23, was the second-best receiver in average yards of separation (3.7 yards), ranking only behind the Arizona Cardinals’ Rondale Moore, who had 3.8 average yards of separation, according to Next Gen Stats. However, Jeudy and a bigger body of work than Moore in terms of targets (100 to 56) and receptions (67 to 41).
“Jeudy would instantly make the Cowboys passing attack lethal as he’s one of the game’s best separators, but this move would be costly,” Rogers wrote, noting that Jeudy’s inclusion in the February 19 story was predicated on the Cowboys’ interest, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, in Jeudy at the trade deadline.
“First off, it must be said that Jeudy is not a free agent this offseason. He’s in the last year of his rookie deal with the possibility of having a team pick up his fifth-year option (cost of $13 million),” Rogers wrote. “The reason he’s listed here is that the Cowboys reportedly made an offer for his services last year near the trade deadline. Now, we have no idea just what the front office was willing to part with, but Jeudy’s asking price was in the neighborhood of a second-round pick last year.”
The Broncos have not picked up the fifth year on Jeudy’s $15 million rookie contract, and they have until May 1 to make a decision. Picking up the option “should be a no-brainer,” according to a February 9 story by Sports Illustrated’s Erick Trickel.
Why Jerry Jeudy Is Not a Likely Option for the Dallas Cowboys
If the Broncos trade Jeudy, it would most likely be to a team that would have a long-term plan for Jeudy, Rogers suggested, writing that Dallas probably wouldn’t give him a multiyear deal.
Rogers wrote that the asking price for Jeudy should now be slightly less than a second-round draft pick. Pelissero did not elaborate on what the Cowboys offered at the 2022 trade, saying only that the Broncos and Cowboys could not agree on a price.
“The asking price should be a little less now, but the Cowboys would only be looking at a possible one-year rental as the team wouldn’t likely commit future cap resources his way when a Lamb extension is on the horizon,” Rogers wrote. “Likeliness: Extremely low.”
Jerry Jeudy Is Definition of ‘Elite’ Separator
Despite a stagnant passing attack in part due to the struggles of quarterback Russell Wilson, Jeudy still turned in a very good season. The third-year receiver caught 67 passes for 972 receiving yards and six touchdowns. All numbers marked career highs.
A major reason Rogers suggested Jeudy as an option was not only because of the Cowboys’ lack of viable receivers, but because there isn’t a single “elite” separator on the roster. CeeDee Lamb ranked 36th (3.1 yards of separation) in the league, while Michael Gallup (2.4 yards, 80th) and Noah Brown (2.3 yards, 84th) were even lower, Rogers wrote.
A number of secondary receivers available will become available in free agency in March, including Parris Campbell, whom Rogers mentioned in the story. And Dallas has already made it clear in their interest in Odell Beckham, according to Pro Football Focus’ Brad Spielberger.
Because of the “costly” nature of acquiring Jeudy combined with the fact that he may be a short-term rental option, it seems more likely that Dallas could find its No. 2 receiver in free agency.