Lions named potential landing spot for Denver Broncos wide receiver on the trade block

If the Denver Broncos weren't in sell-mode before, they surely are now after losing 19-8 to the Kansas City Chiefs on Thursday night. Head coach Sean Payton has tried to play with words by saying the Broncos are taking calls more than shopping any players.

One prominent player who could be a former Bronco in short order is wide receiver Jerry Jeudy. Reports have suggested multiple teams are calling the Broncos about him, and a deal feels imminent. The bits of controversy Jeudy has courted lately is only helping foster the idea he'll be traded before the Oct. 31 deadline.

Jeudy has never quite put it together, now into his fourth NFL season. Denver's quarterback situation, at first dismal and now dismal in a different way with the current version of Russell Wilson hasn't helped, with injuries playing a role too.

But Jeudy is just 24 years old, and trade rumors dating back a while are set to come to fruition with the mess the Broncos are.

NFL trade rumors: Detroit Lions tabbed as potential fit for Jerry Jeudy

Matt Lombardo of FanBuzz passed along some insight this week citing the expectation the Broncos will trade Jeudy before the deadline. And that was before Thursday night.

Here's Lombardo's case for the Lions as a top fit for Jeudy.

The Detroit Lions are very much in the midst of a Super Bowl window opening, and general manager Brad Holmes would be wise to explore any and all possibilities not only to close the gap on the likes of the Philadelphia Eagles and 49ers, but prop said window as wide as possible.

Jeudy would accomplish both.

....Just imagine how much more effective Sam Laporta would be, even with 25 receptions for 289 yards and three touchdowns so far in his career, if defenses needed to shade a safety over the top to respect Jeudy's speed on the perimeter. Adding Jeudy to a receiving corps that already includes Amon-Ra St. Brown, Williams, and emerging star Josh Reynolds would give Detroit one of the league's deepest.

Jeudy has one year left on his contract after this year, as he's due to make just shy of $13 million on his fifth-year option in 2024.

Among Broncos' wide receivers who could be/are available, Courtland Sutton's skill set seems like a better fit for the Lions. And while his contract has more time left on it, it's not at all a firm commitment through 2025.

That said, even if it feels unlikely, a trade to bring Jeudy to Detroit shouldn't be totally dismissed as a bold move before the deadline. He's clearly available, with one foot out the door before Denver's dismal loss Thursday night.