NFL Draft Notebook: Look for Jerry Jeudy to have a breakout season

This week at NFL Mocks we are taking a look at players who will have breakout seasons this year and one player who fits that bill is Denver wide receiver Jerry Jeudy. Last season was a tough year for Jeudy as he missed several games due to injury and saw his production nosedive. However, this season things should change for him due to a couple of additions the Broncos made this offseason.

Along with taking a look at why this should be a strong season for Jerry Jeudy, this week’s NFL Draft Notebook also takes a look at the following:

• The top quarterbacks in the 2023 NFL Draft
• A couple of quarterbacks who could be sleepers this year
• How the Baker Mayfield trade will impact both the Cleveland Browns and Carolina Panthers
• And much more

Look for Jerry Jeudy to shine in Bronco’s new offense

Denver Broncos wide receiver Jerry Jeudy has had his share of struggles his first two years in the NFL. As a rookie, Jeudy battled dropped passes and had his share of mental lapses. Last season saw Jeudy miss seven games with an ankle injury which saw his production drop significantly. This season though things should change for Jeudy and it would not be a surprise if he tripled his production from last season.

The biggest reason Jerry Jeudy’s production will increase from the 38 receptions and 467 yards he produced last season is who will be throwing him the ball this season. After catching passes from Teddy Bridgewater and Drew Lock last season he will be on the receiving end of passes from nine-time Pro Bowler Russell Wilson this year. This should allow Jeudy to see more targets, which will allow him to make more plays both after the catch and downfield.

Another reason Jerry Jeudy will see his production increase in 2022 is the new offensive scheme he will be playing in. New Denver Broncos head coach Nathaniel Hackett will use more of a West Coast offense. The Bronco’s offense this year will look similar to what the Green Bay Packers did last year as Hackett was their offensive coordinator. One staple of the Packer’s offense was their ability to highlight their number one receiver.

Hackett’s offense did this the past couple of seasons with  Davante Adams who caught over 100 passes each of the past two seasons. In 2022, look for Jeudy to be the go-to wide receiver in this offense and his production should skyrocket because of this.

Jerry Jeudy has some things he needs to work on this year, including catching the ball with his hands and showing more focus when hauling in the reception. However, if he can improve in these areas, and stays healthy, an 80 reception season is not out of the question.

2023 Preseason NFL Draft Quarterback Rankings

Top Prospect: C.J. Stroud, Ohio State
When you are the top prospect at your position in Ohio State history you will likely be the top player in your position in the NFL Draft. Stroud is the early favorite to be the number one pick for a good reason, which is his elite deep-ball accuracy, good arm strength, and overall football intelligence. One thing he could work on this year, though, is going through his reads quicker since he can hang onto the ball too long at times.

Most Underrated: Bo Nix, Oregon
The quarterback who could have a Kenny Pickett type rise up the draft board this year is Bo Nix. While Nix has been inconsistent during his time at Auburn he shows the skillset to be a day two selection. A couple of skills Nix possesses include the ability to move in the pocket and escape from pressure when a defender comes unblocked. He also has the ability to throw from multiple platforms and the arm strength to be a vertical passing threat. If he can have a strong year with his new team — the Oregon Ducks — it would not be a shock to see him drafted in the second round.

Most Overrated: Phil Jurkovec, Boston College
It is hard to envision a quarterback who only completes 54% of his passes being a first-round pick, yet if you look at where draftniks have Phil Jurkovec that would be the case. While Jurkovec battled injuries last year including a broken finger which cost him half the season, his film from both 2020 and 2021 raises several red flags. One of the biggest issues with him is a lack of accuracy. He has a hard time consistently delivering the ball, ranking in the bottom 20% in accuracy on passes from 10 to 19 yards and in the bottom 40% of passes over 20 yards. In addition to his accuracy issues, he tends to throw the ball into coverage, which is the main reason he threw four interceptions on just 96 pass attempts last year. While NFL scouts will love his strong arm, ideal size, and quick release, he will need a much better 2022 season to be anything more than a day three pick.

Biggest Risk: Spencer Rattler, South Carolina
The biggest question with Spencer Rattler centers around his poor season last year. After being named the Big 12 newcomer of the year in 2020 and being named the top NFL Draft prospect going into the season, Rattler was benched in 2021. This poor season led to him transferring to South Carolina where he hopes to recapture the magic he had in 2020. Another concern with Rattler is that he has a reputation of being a bit of a primadonna, which could cause him to fall in the draft.

Sleeper: Jake Haener, Fresno State
One of the most overlooked players in the 2023 NFL Draft is Jake Haener of Fresno State. Last season, Haener threw for 4,096 yards and 33 touchdowns and was named All-Mountain West second team. Despite his productive season, he is still ranked as a free agent by most people and if he were to fall that far in the draft he could be an absolute steal. Some of the traits that should allow him to be least a backup in the NFL include consistent accuracy, the arm strength to throw any pass in an NFL offense, and the mobility to move in the pocket.

Overall Quarterback Rankings
1. C.J. Stroud, Ohio State (first round)
2. Bryce Young, Alabama (first round)
3. Spencer Rattler, South Carolina (second round)
4. Will Levis, Kentucky (second round)
5. Tyler Van Dyke, Miami (third round)
6. Bo Nix, Oregon (third round)
7. Grayson McCall, Costal Carolina (third round)
8. Hendon Hooker, Tennessee (third round)
9. Anthony Richardson, Florida (third round)
10. Tanner McKee, Stanford (fourth round)
11. Phil Jurkovec, Boston College (fourth round)
12. Brennan Armstrong, Virginia (fourth round)
13. Jake Haener, Fresno State (fifth round)
14. Kedon Slovis, Pittsburgh (fifth round)
15. Dillon Gabriel, Oklahoma (fifth round)
16. Devin Leary, North Carolina State (fifth round)
17. Jaren Hall, BYU (sixth round)
18. D.J. Uiagalelei, Clemson (sixth round)
19. Tyler Shough, Texas Tech (seventh round)
20. Taulia Tagovailoa, Maryland (seventh round)
21. Dorian Thompson-Robinson, UCLA (seventh round)
22. Will Rogers, Mississippi State (seventh round)
23. J.T. Daniels, West Virginia (free agent)
24. Sam Hartman, Wake Forest (free agent)
25. Malik Cunningham, Louisville (free agent)
26. Clayton Tune, Houston (free agent)

Scouting Notes

While UCLA’s Dorian Thompson-Robinson is an intriguing athlete who can make plays with his feet he does need to work on something in the pocket. The first one is that he tends to bounce in the pocket which hurts him when it comes to always being in a throwing position and getting rid of the ball quickly. He also has issues with his throwing base when in the pocket. In this area, he tends to get two wide of a base which hurts his accuracy.

Last week we saw one of the more underrated trades of the offseason happen when the Carolina Panthers traded for Baker Mayfield. In exchange for Mayfield, the Panthers sent the Browns a conditional fifth-round pick. This move will likely have a big impact on both teams this year. If Carolina can get the Baker Mayfield we saw two years ago they should be able to contend for a playoff spot. On the other hand, the fact the Cleveland Browns traded for Deshaun Watson, who will be facing a lengthy suspension this year, and moved on from Mayfield will likely cost the team a chance at making the postseason this year.

A possible sleeper in the 2023 NFL Draft class is Maryland’s Taulia Tagovailoa. Last season he set a school record for completion % and yards while tying the school record for touchdowns. One of his top traits as a prospect is how he throws a nice catchable ball. He throws with good accuracy on most of his throws and also throws with good touch. He is also doing a much better job of reading defenses, which he should continue to improve on this year.

Stat of the Week:

The 2021 season was the first time in his playing career that Denver Bronco wide receiver Jerry Jeudy went without catching at least two touchdown passes in a season.