The Denver Broncos are picking up the fifth-year option on impact wide receiver Jerry Jeudy. Why is it important that Denver has chosen to invest further in Jeudy’s development?

Denver Broncos Jerry Jeudy fifth-year option

Facing the May 2nd deadline, the Denver Broncos picked up the fifth-year option for former first-round draft pick Jerry Jeudy.

Selected 15th overall in the 2020 NFL Draft, Jeudy has experienced a variety of ups and downs throughout the early portion of his Broncos career — with injuries and inconsistent quarterback play being the only logical gripe.

In his rookie season, he hauled in 52 receptions on 113 targets. His 52 catches accounted for 856 receiving yards and of the 113 targets through the air — he dealt with 10 drops his rookie season.

A majority of the drops during his rookie season were referenced or categorized as concentration drops — with most of his drops coming with his eyes concentrated off of the ball, looking to make a play within his route running before reeling in a pass.

Many Broncos fans express frustration over Jeudy regarding drops, but that narrative surrounding his rookie season hasn’t been applicable the past two seasons. In 2021, Jeudy only had one drop on the season followed up by just five in 2022 — whereas JaMarr Chase, Travis Kelce, Gabriel Davis all led the NFL with seven drops.

However, in the past two seasons, Jeudy has dealt with injuries. In the Broncos’ Week 1 season opener in 2021 against the New York Giants, Jeudy suffered a severe high ankle sprain that kept him out of action for seven weeks.

This past season Jeudy suffered another ankle injury on the first play of the game against the Tennessee Titans and would miss several weeks before returning and exploding from a production standpoint.

Despite missing some time in 2022, Jeudy finished the season with over 1000 all-purpose yards, a career-high in receptions (67), and touchdown catches with six.

While the early portion of his career has experienced several obstacles, his talent is too hard to ignore. With a concerted effort of moving Jeudy around offensive formations, the Denver Broncos possess a player who is unguardable one on one and knows how to aggressively attack the soft spots against zone coverage.

Jeudy and the team benefit from exercising his option and now he has another chance to showcase and prove why he has all of the tools to be an elite producer at the position in the NFL.

In the 2023 NFL Draft, Denver added Marvin Mims to the roster where head coach Sean Payton and General Manager George Paton believe he can complement the various strengths the team feels their wide receiver room has — and that the addition of Mims was not made in light of any decision on Jeudy or the other receivers in the room.

“No, absolutely not,” Payton said regarding whether or not the decision to draft Mims impacts Jeudy’s fifth-year option decision. “I think [WR Marvin] Mims is going to complement what we have. Again, he’s going to compete, but it has nothing to do with any of our receivers.”

Jeudy will be a Bronco for 2023, which puts to rest the off-season trade rumors surrounding his name previously.

The hope is for Jeudy to take an even greater step forward this season.