Kiz: At the risk of starting a Twitter war with Jerry Jeudy, is it time for the Broncos to admit Marvin Mims Jr. is the receiver the team hoped Jeudy would be? In the comeback victory against the bad news Bears, did anybody make a bigger offensive play than Mims, whose 48-yard reception set up the game-winning field goal? So why has Mims been targeted only 11 times in four games? Do the Broncos need to trade Jeudy to give more opportunity to Mims?
Glad you got to watch the game from the crib fam 💯 https://t.co/GCCypcAyRq
— Jerry Jeudy⁴ (@jerryjeudy) October 1, 2023
Gabriel: My Twitter fingers aren’t all that salty, but might I point out that the Broncos’ leading receiver Sunday was Jeudy (three catches for 52) and that he had receptions of 18 on Denver’s first touchdown drive and then nine and 25 on the third touchdown drive? All the same, Mims’ lack of not only targets but snaps — he’s been between 15 and 17 offensive snaps all four games — is indeed mystifying at this point. With only 48 offensive snaps Sunday, 17 was at least a season-high 35% usage rate for Mims, but all he does when he’s in the game is create big plays (OK, and occasionally struggle to land a block on the edge, but he’s not the only Denver receiver that applies to). Thinning the room might be the route to getting Mims on the field more, but I’m not sure I’d start with Jeudy, at least during the season.
Kiz: I kid Jeudy, who took issue with comments by former Broncos Rod Smith and Phillip Lindsay on social media after the Denver receiving core got off to a slow start in Chicago. But I do think Jeudy has intriguing NFL skills, despite his occasional lapses in focus that can result in a dropped football. That being said, quarterback Russell Wilson needs the best playmakers in the Denver huddle. Call me crazy, but I think coach Sean Payton needs to reward Mims’ big-play ability with more touches, even if it means a reduction in Jeudy’s role.
As a reciever you should know how this football shxt go but it was good win doe#controlwhatcancontrol https://t.co/er5fDhk1bO
— Jerry Jeudy⁴ (@jerryjeudy) October 1, 2023
Gabriel: Isn’t Courtland Sutton a more natural candidate for a role rebalance? I get that Mims’ and Jeudy’s skill-sets might be more closely aligned, but Sutton isn’t a rugged force or anything. And we’re not talking about a complete change — at least not in this situation. Maybe even just closer to 50-50. But if you wanted to do the Billy Beane from “Moneyball” and say “You can’t start Pena at first. He plays for Detroit now,” I’d wonder about Sutton at the trade deadline even for lesser compensation, then figure out Jeudy this winter. But then again, I just watch games from the press box and, as Jeudy pointed out, Lindsay watches them from the crib now.
Kiz: And speaking of Lindsay, when is rookie free agent Jaleel McLaughlin going to be named this team’s starting running back? OK, maybe that’s a debate for another day. You would think an offensive genius as impressed with himself as Payton could find adequate touches for Courtland Sutton, Jeudy and Mims. On the other hand, I’m not certain Jeudy has ever really felt at home in Denver, and getting a fresh start elsewhere might do his career good. The Broncos need draft picks. What could Jeudy bring Denver in trade?
Gabriel: Three games don’t radically change a player’s trade value, so I’m sure the Broncos won’t back their asking price down from what it was said to be this spring and summer — a top-level pick or a package of picks and players — just because he’s got 11 catches for 158 yards so far this year. At the same time, teams around the league would counter that, by the same logic, a frenzied five-game finish to 2022 doesn’t make Jeudy a true No. 1 receiver. Outside of a trade-deadline bidding war, something in the third-round range seems like the kind of offer that could materialize. Maybe Jeudy and a fourth-rounder gets them back into the second round after they dealt their own selection away to New Orleans to hire Payton in the first place. The Broncos brass clearly didn’t get the price it wanted this offseason. Does Mims’ start change their view on what’s acceptable?
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