Shortly after former Broncos safety Justin Simmons had been named to the AFC roster for the Pro Bowl Games in early January, he expressed gratitude that he could share the experience with two teammates: cornerback Pat Surtain II and rookie returner Marvin Mims Jr.
But Simmons also lamented the absence from that list of another teammate.
“I just feel like I should say this,” Simmons began. “I know there’s a bunch of great receivers in our league, but I just thought Courtland (Sutton) had a great year, and at least deserved an alternate spot. It’s just disappointing to see that.”
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Sutton, who caught a career-high 10 touchdown passes in 2023, didn’t get that recognition from Pro Bowl voters. Now, he appears to be seeking a different kind of recognition for what he has brought to the Broncos. Sutton has not been in attendance as the Broncos begin the early stages of their voluntary offseason program, and the NFL Network reported Tuesday that the 28-year-old wide receiver is seeking a new contract.
It is important to note that Sutton is not required to be in attendance with the Broncos until their mandatory minicamp from June 11 to 13, the only contractual requirement until training camp begins in late July. Around the NFL, receivers like Justin Jefferson of the Vikings and CeeDee Lamb of the Cowboys have skipped the start of their teams’ voluntary programs as they seek new long-term deals. The situations for those star receivers are different, but absences from voluntary workouts are not uncommon during this portion of the schedule. Still, this represents a first-time occurrence for Sutton, who has seen a number of his veteran teammates, including Simmons, quarterback Russell Wilson and fellow wide receiver Jerry Jeudy get traded or released already this offseason.
It’s easy to understand why Denver’s veteran playmaker is seeking a more substantial commitment.
Sutton is under contract through the 2025 season, but the $2 million of his 2024 salary that became fully guaranteed last month represents the only portion of his remaining salary — he has base figures of $13 million in 2024 and $13.5 million in ’25 — that is guaranteed. Sutton, a 2018 second-round pick of the Broncos who has been on the team longer than any player besides left tackle Garett Bolles, believes his play has warranted a stronger investment from the Broncos. He has played in 48 of a possible 51 games since 2021 and has led the team with 181 catches for 2,377 yards and 14 touchdowns during that stretch. With Jeudy gone, Sutton is Denver’s clear No. 1 receiver.
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Sutton, who signed a four-year contract extension in November of 2021, has played for four different head coaches and has caught passes from nine different quarterbacks since joining the league. He recovered diligently from a 2020 ACL tear, the only significant injury of his pro career, and has been a reliable target on an offense that has lacked overall consistency for the better part of the last eight seasons.
It’s also easy to understand why the Broncos may not be in a hurry to rework Sutton’s deal. First, the fast-approaching NFL Draft — the first round is April 25 — is the primary focus as Denver seeks to fill numerous roster needs. That starts with finding an answer at quarterback, but the Broncos could also seek a weapon at wide receiver. They have shed significant salary at the position this offseason by trading Jeudy and restructuring the final year of veteran Tim Patrick’s contract, and they could seek another low-cost option at receiver as they build the position for the long term. The Broncos may not be in a position to nab one of the top three receiver prospects — Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr., LSU’s Malik Nabers, Washington’s Rome Odunze — but players like Troy Franklin of Oregon, Malachi Corley of Western Kentucky or Xavier Legette of South Carolina could be among Denver’s options in the third round.
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While Sutton finished with those 10 touchdown receptions last season, a number of them in clutch situations that helped Denver author a five-game winning streak midway through the season, other metrics lag behind the league’s top receivers. In 2023, he finished 57th in receptions (59) and 44th in receiving yards (772). He was 21st in yards per target (8.6), suggesting he could be more prolific in an offense that can more effectively stay on the field. Whether it’s Jarrett Stidham or a rookie acquired in the draft, the Broncos will have a quarterback in 2024 who enters the season with relatively little starting experience. Having a reliable outside target like Sutton would be an important ingredient to help manage that transition. But, again, there are two years left on Sutton’s deal. The Broncos aren’t pressed to make another long-term commitment at this point.
Depending on how the draft falls for the Broncos and other teams around the league, trading Sutton could become an option. Such a move would create more than $9.7 million in cap space while leaving Denver with a $7.65 million cap hit, according to Over The Cap. The Broncos won’t be a better team without Sutton on the roster, but that’s a reality they are already facing for 2024 after releasing other key veterans. Denver wants to compete this season and believes it can improve offensively by taking fewer sacks, making targeted additions — such as free-agent acquisition Josh Reynolds — and benefitting from staff and scheme continuity that has been fleeting in recent seasons. But Denver must continue to make decisions with the big picture in mind, and that will be true as it relates to how the Broncos approach the situation with Sutton.
“I know all things happen for a reason and I trust my God’s plans over everything, including what’s next for me,” Sutton wrote in a social media post in January. “Just know I gave everything to this team and organization every time I stepped on the field!”
It’s possible that’s what next for Sutton is a seventh season with the Broncos. But if this offseason of upheaval in Denver under second-year coach Sean Payton has proven anything, it’s that no veteran departure should be viewed as a surprise from here.
(Photo: RJ Sangosti / Getty Images)
2024-04-16 19:47:12
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