As many NFL offseason programs opened up yesterday, a couple of notable receivers (CeeDee Lamb and Justin Jefferson) were among the many players not present as they seek latest contracts. They will not be alone in that respect.
Courtland Sutton is away from the Broncos as he too goals to secure a brand new pact, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports. Two years remain on the 28-year-old’s contract, and he’s due a base salary of $13MM in 2024. Only $2MM of that figure is guaranteed, though, and none of his 2025 salary is guaranteed as things currently stand.
Throughout last offseason and toward the 2023 trade deadline, Sutton was continuously tied to speculation he might be dealt. Denver got here near figuring out a take care of the Ravens, but ultimately the previous second-rounder remained in place. Jerry Jeudy was ultimately sent to the Browns, clearing the way in which for Sutton and Tim Patrick to occupy starting receiver roles with the Broncos moving forward.
Faring significantly better on the health front than a lot of Denver’s other receiving options lately, Sutton has missed considerable time just once in his profession (when he was limited to a single game in 2020 on account of an ACL tear). Since then, the SMU product has played 17, 15 and 16 games. Sutton has remained a focus in Denver’s passing attack during that span, totaling 297 targets.
While the one-time Pro Bowler has not managed to succeed in 1,000 yards since he posted 1,112 in 2019, he rebounded as a red zone threat this past season. Sutton posted 10 touchdowns in 2023, comfortably the best total of his profession, while recording 772 yards on 59 receptions. While those figures will not be those deserving of a long-term investment at the highest of the receiver market, the Broncos now know they don’t need to avoid wasting future money and cap space for a Jeudy extension.
Sutton is about to count $17.4MM against the cap this season, and that figure is almost similar for 2025. An extension could lower those cap charges depending on the way it was structured, and on where within the WR pecking order Sutton goals to put himself. The $15MM annual average value of his current pact puts him in a tie for twenty first amongst receivers. Whatever the AAV of a brand new pact, guaranteed compensation will little doubt be a key sticking point on this case.
Denver’s offense is about to see changes in 2024, the second yr with head coach Sean Payton on the helm. The Broncos moved on from Russell Wilson, and a quarterback addition early within the upcoming draft would come as no surprise because of this. Sutton is positioned to proceed serving as a central figure within the passing game, however the willingness of the team to interact in extension talks will now grow to be an interesting storyline to follow.
