Will Jerry Jeudy be the Broncos’ breakout star in 2021?
May 21, 2021, 1:30 PM | Updated: 1:40 pm
Last season in the NFL was unlike any other because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and most then-rookies had learning curves and obstacles that may have prevented them from hitting their true potential.
The Broncos drafted wide receiver Jerry Jeudy 15th overall in the 2020 draft, but he didn’t quite live up to his expectations.
Could he be Denver’s breakout player for 2021? All signs point to yes.
Last season Jeudy caught just 76.5% of his catchable targets on the year, the worst rate in the NFL, according to Pro Football Focus. Of the ones he didn’t catch, 17.6% went down as a drop.
Jeudy had 110 passes thrown his way and his drop rate was the fifth-worst since 2010 among wide receivers with at least 100 targets in a single season.
Of course we all know that poor quarterback play led to Jeudy’s quality in 2020, but there were many glimpses of the wide receiver’s talent and skillset.
From Week 12 to Week 16, Jeudy managed just 10 receptions for 127 yards. However, in Week 17, Jeudy caught five passes for 140 yards and a touchdown, and ranked fifth in air yards and second in air yards per target in 2020, according to NBC Sports Edge.
Not all “breakouts” are the same in the NFL, but Jeudy could be poised for a big year with the Broncos.
Bleacher Report’s Gary Davenport believes Jeudy’s production will rise this coming season.
“Jeudy’s second season sets up well for improved production and his first 1,000-yard campaign,” Davenport wrote. “Teddy Bridgewater isn’t an elite quarterback, but he did help produce a pair of 1,000-yard receivers (DJ Moore and Robby Anderson) last year with the Panthers.
