This season, the Denver Broncos’ wide receiver corps looked nearly completely different.
Courtland Sutton and other incumbents, such as Lil’Jordan Humphrey, remained in play. Devaughn Vele and Troy Franklin, both rookies, may have also piqued curiosity. But The Athletic revealed details about a failed transaction that could have kept Josh Reynolds off the roster.
The Denver Broncos and New York Jets discussed a potential trade for Jerry Jeudy, which may have been one of several between the two franchises.
On November 19, The Athletic’s Zack Rosenblatt and Dianna Russini reported that “[Former Jets general manager Joe] Douglas pursued a trade with the Denver Broncos for wide receiver Jerry Jeudy, offering Allen Lazard and a Day 2 draft pick.”Johnson rejected it.”
“This would have been a fantastic trade for the Broncos. “In reality, they got 5th and 6th round picks from the Browns for Jerry Jeudy,” The Athletic’s Nick Kosmider said in response to Russini’s article on X on November 19.
“I would’ve much rather taken the (likely) 72nd overall pick & Allen Lazard in a salary dump, who could’ve been a good veteran target for Bo Nix.”
The Broncos were also interested in Lazard before the transaction fell through.
“Sources: #Broncos were also very aggressive in their pursuit of WR Allen Lazard, but likely would have had to make a trade,” Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz wrote in The Score on X after Lazard signed with the Jets in March 2023. “Denver really values his toughness and route-running.”
Lazard, 28, is in year two of a four-year, $44 million contract. He’s made $18.1 million in his career. The former Packer’s base salary is $10 million in 2024 and $11 million in 2025 and 2026. He faces cap hits of $12.2 million, $13.2 million, and $13.2 million in those years.
A post-June 1 deal would have saved the Jets $10 million on the salary cap, according to Over The Cap. This season, they would spend $2.2 million on empty space.
Lazard has 30 receptions for 412 yards and five touchdowns this season.
Lazard, an undrafted free agent in 2019, initially made his mark with the Green Bay Packers in 2018. He had a great bond with Aaron Rodgers there before the Packers moved him to the Jets in 2023.
His bond with Rodgers makes him a good fit for New York’s free agency in 2023. However, a trade and the acquisition of former Packers Davante Adams drove him down the depth chart.
The Broncos and Jets collaborated on two other deals during the 2024 offseason.
Denver acquired former No. 2 overall pick (2021) and quarterback Zach Wilson from New York ahead of the 2024 draft in April. Wilson is the third quarterback, after Nix and Jarrett Stidham. Less than a week after trading for Wilson, the Broncos added defensive tackle John Franklin-Myers.
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