For the third time in as many seasons, the Cleveland Browns introduced a wide receiver to the media they added via trade. In 2022, it was Amari Cooper. Last season it was Elijah Moore. Now in 2024, Jerry Jeudy is the newest pass-catcher and he met with the press earlier this week while making his first visit to CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Jeudy walked through the facility and even picked out his new number, going with No. 3. He was then presented with the new jersey almost immediately, much to his surprise.
From there, he headed to the podium for his first chance to speak with the Cleveland media. He touched on a variety of topics and here are three quick takeaways from the session.
Jerry Jeudy finds pairing with the Browns 'surreal'
For more than a year, there were rumors Cleveland wanted to add Jeudy and he was paying attention. He spoke on how it was "surreal" to finally join a team that's had their eye on him for that long.
"I heard that the Browns were interested in me even two years ago," Jeudy said via the team's official website. "To actually be here, it's a surreal moment. So, I feel like I'm at the right spot because they have been trying to get me for a long time, so I feel like I'm wanted here. As a player, you always want to be in a place that you feel welcomed and want to make it feel like home and want to be wanted. And so having that feeling is great."
The human element can often get lost when analyzing players. It had to be difficult for Jeudy to suit up in Denver every week knowing they were actively trying to move on from him. Now being in a place where he feels truly wanted feels like a breath of fresh air. Perhaps that leads to an even better showing on the field.
Jeudy believes his skillset complements Cooper, Moore
One comparison that has been made for a while when discussing Jerry Jeudy is Amari Cooper. Both are Alabama products that are similar in size as well as style of play. Cooper stands 6-foot-1 and 211 pounds with Jeudy standing in at 6-foot-1 and 193 pounds. They're also both very precise route-runners who don't rely on simply overpowering defenders to find success.
Jeudy discussed this, saying he and Cooper would complement one another well in this offense. But he also said the same is true of Elijah Moore. According to Jeudy, all three can create separation and create after the catch.
"I feel like I could bring the same thing to the table – get open, create separation and make plays after the catch. I feel like we got a great set of receiving corps that could bring all that to the table actually."
Cooper finished 2023 with 1,250 yards and five touchdowns on 72 receptions. Moore had 59 catches for 640 yards and two scores. Jeudy now joins the group on the heels of a 758-yard campaign that included two touchdowns on 54 receptions. Throw in David Njoku (81 receptions, 882 yards, and 6 TDs) and there are more than enough weapons in this aerial attack to believe they will have success in 2024.
Cooper and Jeudy have been close for years
It's not a coincidence that Jeudy and Cooper have similar styles of play. According to Jeudy, that happened by design since he modeled his game after the Browns No. 1 wideout.
The two were never teammates at Alabama with Cooper entering the league in the 2015 NFL Draft. His career at 'Bama went from 2012 through 2014. Jeudy didn't arrive in Tuscaloosa until 2017 and was there until 2019. He was then selected by the Denver Broncos in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
Despite their collegiate careers not overlapping, Jeudy said he got to meet Cooper while he was playing for the Crimson Tide. He said the two have become close friends, adding that he's excited to play alongside him.
"In my time at Bama, I got a chance to catch up with Amari and become close friends with him. That's a guy that I've been modeling my game after for a long time and been watching him since I was young. So, being able to play alongside him it's going to be exciting."
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) March 14, 2024
As exciting as the offseason can be we all know by now that we have to see it on the field before we can get too excited. Still, it's hard to see how this move can be a negative since Cleveland gave up next to nothing for a player who flirted with 1,000 yards just two seasons ago.