Courtland Sutton, a top wide receiver for the Denver Broncos, has stated he would skip training camp if his demands are not fulfilled.
In a “shocking” trade proposal from Bleacher Report’s Gary Davenport, the Broncos could solve this specific issue and regain some much-needed draft capital by sending Sutton and a 2026 sixth-round pick to the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for a 2025 conditional Day 2 pick and a 2025 fifth-round pick.
Sutton signed a four-year, $60.8 million contract extension in November 2021; the pact pays him $13.6 million in 2024 and $14 million in 2025. Sutton is still two years into the deal.
Sutton hasn’t had over 1,000 receiving yards in a season since 2019 — his only Pro Bowl season — and is the last Bronco to pass that mark for either rushing yards or receiving yards.
“The Dallas Cowboys are allegedly ‘all-in’ on the 2024 campaign,” Davenport wrote in a June 14 story in which he acknowledges the unlikelihood of such a deal. “But the team has some potentially glaring needs at running back and wide receiver that could prevent it from repeating as NFC East champions.
“Sutton would fill one of those needs — an upgraded WR2 opposite star CeeDee Lamb,” he wrote. “Given the team’s questions at running back, the Dallas offense may have to lean on quarterback Dak Prescott and the passing game more than ever. In a contract year for Prescott in which quarterback salaries continue to climb.”
If Broncos Want to Tank, Trade Courtland Sutton
If the Broncos just want to tank the 2024 season and go for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft, then the sell Sutton as quickly as possible, which would almost surely ensure that they have one of the poorest records in the NFL this year.
This is due to the fact that Sutton is the only dependable pass-catcher on the team, but this may not matter given the competition for the starting quarterback among rookies Bo Nix, Zach Wilson, and Jarrett Stidham.
Sutton, who was selected by the Broncos in the second round of the 2018 NFL draft by selecting him at pick No. 40 overall from SMU, is about to begin his seventh season in Denver. During that time, he has been starting quarterback for ten different teams, despite managing at least 50 receptions and 700 receiving yards in each of the previous three seasons.
In 2023, Sutton led Denver with 59 receptions for 772 receiving yards and a career-high 10 touchdowns
Elite Wide Receivers Garnering Record Paydays
The market for NFL wide receivers has never been better in terms of the record paydays being handed out to stars—value that can only be beneficial to Sutton in his quest for additional funds.
Wide receiver Justin Jefferson of the Minnesota Vikings reset the market for the position on June 3rd when he agreed to a 4-year, $140 million deal extension with $110 million in guaranteed money.
Lamb and Ja’Marr Chase, wide receivers for the Cincinnati Bengals, should soon have similar contracts.
Prior to Jefferson’s record-breaking contract, wide receivers A.J. Brown of the Philadelphia Eagles (3 years, $96 million) and Amon-Ra St. Brown of the Detroit Lions (4 years, $120 million) both got large contract extensions.
