DENVER -- Jerry Jeudy knows how to make an entrance.
Wednesday, the former Alabama star tweeted out a hype video of Broncos' Super Bowl victory highlights -- John Elway's helicopter first down, Von Miller's strip sack of Cam Newton, Peyton Manning holding the Super Bowl 50 trophy -- and announced he had "agreed to terms."
Broncos Country ... we have news 👀 pic.twitter.com/pNcpBXsN55
— Jerry Jeudy⁴ (@jerryjeudy) July 23, 2020
Jeudy is in the fold, and if he meets expectations, the wrinkles in this offense will begin getting ironed out. Jeudy signed a four-year, fully guaranteed $15.19 million deal with a $8.61 million signing bonus. It includes a fifth-year club option, standard for first-round contracts.
Jeudy, 21, brings a decorated resume and inspires optimism like few Broncos have in recent seasons. He caught 159 passes for 2,742 yards and 26 touchdowns at Alabama. He is known for his maturity at his position. His routes feature more polish than Pledge. Watch his highlights or tweets, and it's impossible not to be intrigued by his ability to cut sharply and burst in out of breaks.
With Jeudy expected to start from the first game, it gives the Broncos more versatility. Receiver Courtland Sutton turned in a Pro Bowl season in his second year, and is a future All-Pro. With Jeudy on the opposite side of Sutton, defenses will be forced -- for the first time in years -- to make tough decisions in coverage. It should also open up the field for tight end Noah Fant, who set franchise rookie records for his position in receptions and yards a year ago.
Second-round slot receiver K.J. Hamler, who is a blur like Jeudy, is expected to sign soon, further diversifying an offense under promising quarterback Drew Lock.
The Broncos have signed nine of their 10 picks. The rookies began reporting to UCHealth Training Center on Wednesday for COVID-19 testing. An incubation period will follow, pushing back the first field work. The Broncos first full team practices will not happen until early August, and fans are not permitted at training camp this season, per NFL mandate.
