The sands of time seem to be running down on Courtland Sutton’s tenure in Denver. But the 28-year-old wide receiver hopes to turn over the hourglass.
This offseason, Sutton, an unrestricted free agent in 2026, watched the Broncos part ways with notable veterans like wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (traded to Browns) and safety Justin Simmons (released before signing one-year deal with Atlanta).
But Sutton strongly believes he can be a factor in Denver’s future and has enough in the tank to build on a 2023 campaign that saw him record 10 touchdown catches — the most by a Broncos player in a single season since 2014.
“Mentally and physically, I feel like I have so much left to give,” Sutton said. “It was nice to have 10 touchdowns, but I know (there’s) more.”
Sutton’s value to the team, especially this season, remains significant. His voice is well-respected within the locker room. With the roster sprinkled with young players, including rookie wideouts Troy Franklin and Devaughn Vele, Sutton’s presence is essential.
“The most important thing I think you can provide a young player is the veteran in front of him,” head coach Sean Payton said. “Troy Franklin and Vele watching Courtland prepare can be a real plus, but it can also be a negative if you don’t have that type of individual. It’s good for the younger players to see what he’s doing.”
This season, Sutton can be a security blanket for whoever is under center at quarterback. In the Broncos’ preseason opener against the Colts, Jarrett Stidham’s and Bo Nix’s first completions went to Sutton. In 2023, he was easily the most reliable target for since-departed Russell Wilson.
There were multiple occasions when Wilson showed trust in Sutton downfield, giving the rangy receiver an opportunity to make contested catches over a defender. Sutton had a contested catch rate of 57%, according to Pro Football Focus. Perhaps the most memorable of those catches was his go-ahead touchdown grab in Denver’s home win over the Minnesota Vikings.
Sutton also had a career-best catch percentage (65.6%) in 2023, according to Pro Football Reference.
“He’s a dog when he (makes) those contested catches, and we are flexing our muscles while yelling,” right guard Quinn Meinerz said.
It remains to be seen whether Sutton and Nix will have similar chemistry. But Denver’s rookie quarterback said there’s a sense of comfort whenever Sutton lines up on the outside. Nix mentioned he and Sutton have “great” dialogue on the field and they give each other feedback. “When he sees something, he tells me, and then I can do the same,” Nix said.
This season, Sutton must show he can play a vital role in Denver’s future. Even though he had the fourth-highest touchdown reception total in the league in 2023, he still finished with 772 receiving yards and hasn’t topped 1,000-plus yards since 2019. He has only three games since 2021 where he recorded at least 100 receiving yards.
Sutton’s contract dispute with the team in the offseason resulted in both sides agreeing to add up to $1.5 million in incentives for 2024, a source told The Post. He has a $13 million base salary this year and can earn up to $500,000 in per-game roster bonuses and $100,000 in other bonuses, according to OvertheCap data. There is one more year left on his deal with a cap hit of $17.8 million in 2025.
Despite the holdout, Sutton still has only $2 million in guaranteed money for 2024 and none beyond this season. The Broncos can save $14 million if they trade or cut Sutton in 2025, according to OvertheCap. Which means one thing: If Sutton wants to stick around long-term, he must deliver this fall.
The motivation is there. Denver is home. Sutton wants to see this rebuilding process through and is confident that his best days are ahead. His teammates do, too.
“Everyone was able to see how much of a clutch player he is and a key part of our offense,” Meinerz said.
Mr. Reliable
In 2023, Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton was a reliable target, recording a career-best 10 touchdown passes. Here is a look at how his touchdown total stacked up with the rest of the league. Mobile users, tap here to see the chart.
| Player | Team | Ranking | TD Total |
|---|---|---|---|
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| Mike Evans | Tampa Bay | T-1st | 13 |
| Tyreek Hill | Miami | T-1st | 13 |
| CeeDee Lamb | Cowboys | 3rd | 12 |
| Courtland Sutton | Denver | T-4th | 10 |
| Amon-Ra St. Brown | Detroit | T-4th | 10 |
| Jordan Addison | Minnesota | T-4th | 10 |
| Sam LaPorta | Detroit | T-4th | 10 |
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