Jerry Jeudy

Not much went right in Denver last season, but Jeudy was among the few reasons for optimism as he bounced back from his ugly sophomore campaign and again looked the part of a first-round pick. He didn't quite get to 1,000 receiving yards, in part because he missed two games, ultimately finishing at 67-972-6 on the strength of a big finish to the year. His big finish -- 523 yards over the final six games -- has reignited hype around the 2020 first-rounder, while teammate Courtland Sutton has still failed to recapture his pre-ACL-tear form after suffering the injury Week 1 in 2020. The Broncos also have high hopes for Marvin Mims, a rookie second-round pick who could take on added importance early in the year now that Jeudy is nursing a hamstring injury and appears in danger of missing the first few games.

Jeudy fell flat instead of breaking out in Year 2, unable to build momentum after a promising finish to his 856-yard rookie campaign. He got off to a fast start in the season opener last year with five catches before halftime, only to suffer a high-ankle sprain in the third quarter. Jeudy returned to a sputtering offense at the end of October and didn't help much, averaging 3.6 catches for 43.9 yards on 5.3 targets in his final nine games (without a TD all year). The silver lining? He caught 68 percent of his targets, and 8.2 YPT was solid for a guy who dealt with bad QB play and took 68 percent of his snaps from the slot. Jeudy figures to spend a lot of time in the slot again this season, but it'll look different with Russell Wilson replacing Teddy Bridgewater and Drew Lock. The former Seahawk had a role in three consecutive 1,000-yard, eight-TD seasons from Tyler Lockett, another speedy receiver who often aligns in the slot but can also do damage outside. While Jeudy isn't physically dominant - 4.45 40, 193 pounds - he's fast enough to pull off some of the slickest route-running you'll see from a 23-year-old receiver. He also has the blue-chip pedigree, with two huge seasons at Alabama leading up to an early declare and first-round selection. Whether that translates to big-time volume remains to be seen, as the Broncos also have Courtland Sutton under contract long term and 2020 second-round pick KJ Hamler hoping to earn snaps, but Jeudy should be aided by the fact that Tim Patrick suffered a torn ACL during training camp.

After a 15-target Week 16 last year in which Jeudy had only six catches and several egregious drops, he exploded for 7-5-140-1 in Week 17, including a spectacular 92-yard catch-and-run TD, showing why he was the second wide receiver taken in the 2020 draft. All told, Jeudy had 13 drops, one of the highest totals in recent memory (though mercifully eclipsed by Diontae Johnson's 15) and pedestrian per-play output (7.6 YPC). On the bright side, he showed he could stretch the field with 16.5 YPC (2nd) and four catches for 40-plus yards on only 113 targets. At 6-1, 193, and running a 4.45 40, Jeudy is a smooth route runner, unusually polished for his age. And he seems to play faster in pads. The problems for Jeudy, aside from the drops, are poor QB play and competition for targets. Teddy Bridgewater will be the Week 1 starter, with Drew Lock available in reserve. Courtland Sutton, a rising star in his own right, should be back from a torn ACL, while Tim Patrick, the biggest and most efficient Broncos receiver from a year ago, is still around after signing a second-round tender. KJ Hamler, a 2020 second-round pick, will also get a shot, and 2019 first-rounder Noah Fant is developing as one of the league's top pass-catching TEs. Jeudy has the talent and pedigree to emerge as the No. 1, but he's a long shot to be among the league leaders in targets.

In a rookie class loaded with talented receivers, Jeudy stands out as perhaps the best. He had 24 touchdown catches the last two seasons and averaged 12.6 and 10.6 YPT in 2018 and 2019, respectively, at Alabama. At 6-1, 193, he has only average size but good speed (4.45 40) and uncanny quickness and burst. He's a smooth route runner with a knack for getting open, good hands and excellent vision while running after the catch. He's a rare combo of raw athletic talent, football intelligence and polish. Landing in Denver with the 15th overall pick, Jeudy should start as the team's No. 2 receiver behind Courtland Sutton, with second-round selection KJ Hamler like serving as the No. 3. Second-year quarterback Drew Lock will have to improve, but if he does, there should be enough to go around for the team's top two targets and either Hamler or last year's first-rounder, tight end Noah Fant.