Jerry Jeudy’s time in Cleveland could be coming to an end after three seasons with the Browns. After arriving in Cleveland in 2024 with high expectations, Jeudy’s production has declined as the Browns continue to develop a young receiving core. Through his first two games of the 2026 season, Jeudy has only seen two receptions for 26 yards, while rookies Denzel Boston, KC Concepcion, and Harold Fannin Jr. have begun to take on larger roles in the offense.
Jeudy has proven that he can be a productive receiver at the NFL level, but Cleveland may now have to decide whether his future fits with the direction of the offense. With the trade deadline at Week 10 in the season, the Browns could look to ship the veteran receiver out while giving their young playmakers more opportunities.
Time to Trade Jerry Jeudy?
Jeudy’s Role Has Changed
Jeudy has seen his role change with Cleveland since he first arrived in 2024. When the Browns first acquired Jeudy, he became a major part of their passing game, immediately showing why he was the clear-cut number one. In that 2024 season, he had the best season of his career, racking up 90 receptions for 1,229 yards and four touchdowns. He was heavily involved in Cleveland’s offense, leading the team in targets with 145. Jeudy was also able to produce this Pro Bowl-level season despite the Browns using four different starting quarterbacks throughout the season.
However, Jeudy’s production took a significant hit in the 2025 season, where he appeared in all seventeen games, his receptions dropped from 90 to 50, while his receiving yards fell from 1229 to 602 on 106 targets, with Fannin Jr. leading the team in targets with 107. This already shows that his involvement in the Browns’ passing game was on the decline.
This current season, Jeudy is seeing very little involvement in the passing game, getting moved from the “X” wide receiver position to the “Z” position for the rookie, Boston. This season, he has seen two catches for 26 yards on five targets through two games, showing very limited production. This limited involvement raises questions about where he fits into Cleveland’s current passing game, especially with younger receivers like Concepcion, Boston, Fannin, and Bond.
Cleveland’s Young Receivers Are Ready for Bigger Roles
With Jerry Jeudy’s role decreasing, Cleveland has many young pass-catchers who could be given more opportunities in the Browns’ offense. Boston and Concepcion, the two rookies who were drafted back in April, have already shown some flashes and been targeted almost twice as much as Jeudy. With both rookies already seeing significant involvement early, Cleveland could look to give them more opportunities as the season progresses.
Boston and Concepcion aren’t the only two young pass catchers who could benefit from a larger role. Fannin Jr. has already shown that he can be a dependable option in the passing game, leading the team back in 2025 as a rookie with 731 receiving yards and tied for total team touchdowns with running back Quinshon Judkins at seven. Isaiah Bond is another name that has been relatively quiet with the Browns, but his ability to make big plays gives Cleveland another reason to increase his role in the offense. Bond has shown that, when given the chance, he is a solid deep threat, averaging 18.8 yards per catch, totalling 338 yards on 18 receptions in his rookie year.
The Last Word
Through the first two games of the 2026 NFL season, it is clear that Jeudy’s role in Cleveland is changing. With Cleveland’s clear focus on moving to a young receiving core, we could see the Browns make a move sooner rather than later. Jeudy’s 2026 base salary is only $1.5 million, with much of his contract coming through bonuses, this could make him an appealing option for teams looking for a veteran receiver before the Week 10 trade deadline.
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