The Cleveland Browns should send a thank you letter to the New York Jets for nixing a trade for wide receiver Jerry Jeudy.
According to The Athletic’s Diana Russini, the Jets had a deal in place to acquire Jeudy from the Denver Broncos last offseason, but their owner Woody Johnson nixed the trade from happening. And the best part? Johnson forced his hand and pulled the rug out from his former general manager Joe Douglas because of Jeudy’s Madden rating.
You cannot make this up.
Anyway, the Browns profit from this level of incompetence (Browns fans don’t get to say that often) as they then landed Jeudy for the price of just a fifth and sixth round pick. The Browns then locked Jeudy down for just $17.5 million per year this offseason, well below market value.
Jeudy has since repaid the Browns with a career year, eclipsing 1,000 yards receiving for the first time in his career. Had the Browns waited to get a deal done until after the season, they would have had to have paid him multiple more millions per year.
Thanks, Woody!
