NFL Trade Rumors: Browns Out on Cardinals' DeAndre Hopkins, Eye Broncos' Jerry Jeudy

The Cleveland Browns are still pondering a trade for Denver Broncos wide receiver Jerry Jeudy, according to Cleveland.com's Mary Kay Cabot.

"One source told cleveland.com the chatter surrounding the Browns and Jeudy seems to be mostly smoke, but another said the door remains open for the Browns to try to acquire him," Cabot wrote.

The Browns have shifted their focus away from another veteran wideout, as CBS Sports HQ's Josina Anderson reported Tuesday that they aren't currently pursuing Arizona Cardinals star DeAndre Hopkins.

Thanks to the Deshaun Watson trade, Cleveland doesn't have a first-round pick in 2023, which could make it difficult to land Jeudy. Sportsnaut's Benjamin Allbright reported Denver is looking to get a first-rounder or at least a high second-round pick in return.

Even if the Broncos were to lower their asking price, the Browns have to consider whether they want to further exhaust their already limited supply of draft picks. If they traded their second-round pick for him (No. 42 overall), they'd be left with only one pick inside the top 100.

The 23-year-old's contract status has to be a consideration as well. He has only a $4.8 million cap hit in 2023, but he has a $13 million fifth-year option for 2024, which is the last year of his rookie deal.

If Jeudy performs like a No. 1 receiver, then it wouldn't be long before Cleveland has to pay him like one. That could be tricky when Watson and Myles Garrett are combining to earn $71 million annually through 2026. Watson specifically will have a nearly $64 million cap hit starting in 2024.

There's obviously some risk in looking to the draft to find some help for Watson and Amari Cooper in the passing game. Many of the best options could be unavailable when the Browns are on the clock.

That route would be the most cost-effective, though.