Jets owner Woody Johnson reportedly scrapped Jerry Jeudy trade over Madden rating

New York Jets owner Woody Johnson reportedly shut down a possible trade for wide receiver Jerry Jeudy because of his Madden rating. The Athletic reported the claim (per Pro Football Talk) and said that wasn’t the only time Johnson cited Madden ratings for football decisions. The Athletic said the Madden factor comes from Johnson’s sons, Brick and Jack.

“When we’re discussing things, you’ll hear Woody cite something that Brick or Jack read online that’s being weighed equally against whatever opinion someone else in the department has,” an unnamed Jets executive told The Athletic.

A Jets spokesperson spoke to The Athletic about Johnson’s sons using Madden to help with football decisions. “It is used as a reference point; it is not determinative,” the person stated. “It’s really sad that an adult would use a misleading anecdote about teenagers to make their father look bad. It’s ridiculous, quite honestly, the idea that this was used to influence the opinion of experienced executives. . . . [The sons] have no roles in the organization. It’s completely ridiculous to suggest that any outside info is intended to replace the opinions of [Woody Johnson’s] staff.”

What is Jerry Jeudy’s Madden rating?

For what it’s worth, Jeudy’s Madden NFL 25 rating is 83. If Jeudy was on the Jets right now, he would be the second-highest-rated receiver on the roster only behind Garrett Wilson (86). He would also be one of the 10 highest-rated players on the Jets roster.

Jeudy spent his first four seasons with the Denver Broncos and had his best season in 2022, catching 67 passes for 972 yards and six touchdowns. This past offseason, the 25-year-old was traded to the Cleveland Browns, and he has put together a strong 2024 season, catching 70 passes for 1,052 yards and four touchdowns.

“When we acquired Jerry via trade this spring, it was with the vision that he would become a core member of our offense in 2024 and beyond,” Browns general manager Andrew Berry said after signing Jeudy to a three-year contract extension. “He is a scheme-versatile receiver with high-level ability to separate against man coverage and a diverse number of ways to produce on the perimeter or in the slot.”