Jerry Jeudy to the Pro Bowl in 2022? Sports Illustrated thinks so
Jun 28, 2022, 11:25 AM
A popular pick to be the biggest benefactor of the Broncos acquiring Russell Wilson is third-year wide receiver Jerry Jeudy.
The former Alabama star, who Denver selected No. 15 overall in the 2020 NFL Draft, has been a disappointment thus far in his NFL career. Jeudy has just 90 catches and three touchdowns over his first two seasons, though his QBs were primarily Drew Lock and Teddy Bridgewater. He also battled a brutal ankle injury suffered in Week 1 of the 2021 season.
But Jeudy was a first-round pick for a reason, and there’s no doubt he’s bursting with raw potential and talent. So much so, that Conor Orr of Sports Illustrated wrote on Tuesday morning that Jeudy could be a possible first-time NFL Pro Bowler in 2022. He was one of 10 players around the league to make Orr’s list. Here’s part of what he wrote about Jeudy:
While Jeudy profiles differently than some of Russell Wilson’s recent, best targets, Jeudy’s route tree was similar to that of Tyler Lockett, especially the routes Lockett ran toward the end of last season. Wilson has had receivers in the Pro Bowl two times over the last six seasons, though some of that stagnation has to do with Seattle’s scheme. Nathaniel Hackett is a mastermind when it comes to lulling defenses into a trap that yields an explosive play. Jeudy’s fellow receivers on the depth chart, Tim Patrick and Courtland Sutton, are ideal space creators, while Jeudy possesses the rare athleticism and talent to break a defense open.
One of the other things Orr mentions is Jeudy’s touchdown in the 2020 season against the New York Jets. It was on a deep ball thrown by Brett Rypien all of people. Still, it was a phenomenal catch that showed Jeudy’s ability on home run passes — the type of ball Wilson is so good at delivering.
Jerry Jeudy MOSSED #Jets DB Pierre Desir for his first career NFL TD.
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) October 2, 2020
Jeudy is averaging 14.7 yards per reception so far in his short career, but look for that number to go up this season. Defenses will have a lot to focus on with Wilson under center, Sutton, Patrick and Jeudy at wide receiver and either Albert Okwuegbunam or Greg Dulcich at tight end.
Does all this mean Jeudy will make a Pro Bowl in 2022? Certainly not. But the more you dive into Orr’s prediction and the reasoning behind it, the more it makes sense.
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