Photo Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
The Denver Broncos have no plans to let Courtland Sutton leave anytime soon. Speaking at the NFL Combine, head coach Sean Payton and general manager George Paton made it clear that Sutton remains a key part of the team’s future beyond 2025, the final year of his current contract.
“Courtland is one of our guys, team captain—I’ve said this a couple years in a row—we want him here,” Paton said at Lucas Oil Stadium. “Those discussions will happen at the right time.”
Sutton’s Impact on the Broncos’ Offense
Sutton emerged as the go-to target for rookie quarterback Bo Nix this past season, leading the team in receptions (81), receiving yards (1,081), and touchdowns (8). No other Broncos receiver came close—Sutton finished with 40 more receptions, 578 more yards, and two more touchdowns than Denver’s next-best wide receiver.
His chemistry with Nix was evident, and the veteran wideout became one of the young quarterback’s strongest supporters. Nix, who struggled early and didn’t throw his first touchdown until Week 4, credited Sutton for helping him adjust to the NFL. Nix’s 29 touchdown passes were the second-most ever by a rookie, and much of that success came from his connection with Sutton.
With the Broncos fully invested in Nix as their long-term quarterback, keeping his most reliable target has become a priority.
“We felt like he had a real good season,” Payton said. “He’s important to what we’re doing.”
A Reliable Playmaker in Key Situations
Sutton was Nix’s most trusted option in nearly every situation. He ranked 21st in the NFL in tight-window receptions, where the nearest defender is less than a yard away at the catch. No other Broncos player finished in the top 90 in that category.
He also saw a massive 135 targets—65 more than Denver’s second-most targeted player, running back Javonte Williams, and 80 more than the next-highest wide receiver, Devaughn Vele.
With that level of production, it’s no surprise Sutton wants long-term security. He is set to earn a $13.5 million base salary in 2025, but sources indicate he does not want to play on his current deal.
Broncos’ Approach to an Extension
Paton said he will have informal talks with Sutton’s agent, Jacob Presser, this week, but serious negotiations will come later. Payton echoed that sentiment, saying, “All of that will happen in time, and I don’t think now is the right time.”
This isn’t the first time contract talks between Sutton and the Broncos have gotten complicated. He skipped Denver’s offseason program last year, missing all OTAs while seeking a new deal. Though he attended mandatory minicamp and reported to training camp on time, tensions remained as the team managed $84 million in dead cap space.
Rather than adding guaranteed money, the Broncos converted $11.79 million of Sutton’s 2024 salary into a signing bonus, giving him immediate cash while maintaining cap flexibility. They also added performance incentives, which helped Sutton earn extra money for reaching specific yardage milestones.
How Free Agency Could Affect Sutton’s Future
While the Broncos want to keep Sutton, they may also explore top free-agent wide receivers. One potential target is Tee Higgins, if the Bengals don’t use the franchise tag on him.
It’s unclear whether a major free-agent signing would affect Sutton’s extension talks. Denver views him as their primary X receiver (split end), typically lining up on the opposite side of the formation from the tight end. Marvin Mims Jr. and Troy Franklin filled the Z receiver role, which often moves in pre-snap motion, this past season.
Payton praised Mims’ late-season progress and sees Franklin as a long-term option at Z receiver.
“We see [Franklin] as a Z. We move our guys around a little bit so it’s not exclusive,” Payton said. “But thought he had a good rookie year. Sometimes he’s in that same position as Mims is at, so we have two guys certainly — we’ve gotten faster because those guys can run.
“We saw that growth spurt with Marvin in Year 2. But I would say I was real pleased how [Franklin] handled the totality of the rookie season.”
What’s Next?
The Broncos face a key decision—commit to Sutton long-term or reshape the receiving corps around Nix. While contract talks won’t happen immediately, the 29-year-old receiver’s future in Denver remains a priority.
Sutton, who has spent his entire career with the Broncos since the team drafted him in 2018, has already made his stance clear:
“Denver is the place I want to be able to retire.”
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This report used information from ESPN.
