CBS Sports: The Denver Broncos Miss Out on trade for the highly sought-after $44 million playmaker
This season, the Denver Broncos nearly had a different wide receiver group.
Lil’Jordan Humphrey and Courtland Sutton, among other incumbents, were still in the running. Troy Franklin and Devaughn Vele, rookies, may have also attracted attention. However, The Athletic revealed information on a botched trade that could have prevented Josh Reynolds from playing.
The Broncos and New York Jets discussed a possible trade for Jerry Jeudy, which would have been one of many agreements between the two teams.
Zack Rosenblatt and Dianna Russini of The Athlteic wrote in a batch of intelligence on November 19 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, according to a league source.” “Johnson decided against it.”
“The Broncos would have benefited greatly from this move. In response to Russini’s claim on X on November 19, Nick Kosmider of The Athletic commented, “In actuality, they received 5th & 6th round picks from the Browns for Jerry Jeudy.”
“I would have preferred to take Allen Lazard, who could have been a good veteran target for Bo Nix, with the (likely) 72nd overall pick and pay dump him.”
Prior to the botched transaction, the Broncos were also interested in Lazard.
Following Lazard’s signing with the Jets in March 2023, Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports wrote for The Score on X, “Sources: #Broncos were also very aggressive in their pursuit of WR Allen Lazard, but likely would have had to make a trade.” “Denver really appreciates his route-running and toughness.”
Lazard, 28, is in the second year of a $44 million, four-year contract. Over his career, he has made $18.1 million. The basic wage for the former Packer is $10 million in 2024 and $11 million in 2025 and 2026. In those years, he had cap hits of $12.2 million, $13.2 million, and $13.2 million.
According to Over The Cap, the Jets would have avoided the salary cap by $10 million if they had made a deal after June 1. This season, they would have to pay $2.2 million in dead space.
This season, Lazard has caught 30 receptions for 412 yards and five touchdowns.
Lazard made his debut with the Green Bay Packers in 2018 as an undrafted free agent in 2019. There, he became good friends with Aaron Rodgers, who was dealt to the Jets by the Packers in 2023.
In 2023, he was a good match for New York in free agency because of his bond with Rodgers. But he dropped down the depth chart due to a trade pickup and the arrival of fellow former Packer Davante Adams.
