Key Takeaways:
– Courtland Sutton, Denver Broncos’ primary wide receiver, may stay away from the team’s OTAs.
– Sutton, currently in the third year of a four-year, $60.8 million contract wants an increase in guaranteed money.
– This situation could turn into a standoff between Sutton and the Broncos management.
– The team will likely face challenges getting the operations on track without Sutton.
– Despite rumors, the Broncos are not planning to trade Sutton.
The Denver Broncos’ organized team activities (OTAs) will be lacking in firepower. Primary wide receiver, Courtland Sutton, is reportedly seeking a contract renegotiation, which could see him missing the team’s preparatory sessions. With the team geared up for the start of the 2024 regular season, Sutton’s absence presents a significant setback.
Courtland Sutton’s Contract Reevaluation
Sutton, currently at the tail end of a four-year, $60.8 million contract, wishes to renegotiate the guaranteed money from his deal. The current contract guarantees $2 million out of Sutton’s $17.4 million salary cap hit for 2024. This financial tug of war has arisen from recent contracts signed by other players, including Sutton’s former teammate, Jerry Jeudy, who landed a three-year, $52.5 million deal with the Cleveland Browns, fully guaranteed at the time of signing.
Jeremy Fowler from ESPN reported that Sutton, working out independently in Florida, may not show up for the Broncos’ upcoming OTAs despite being due to earn $13.6 million this year. Negotiations between Sutton and the Broncos match his desire for a raise, hovering potentially between $15-$16 million, a sweet spot that the team is yet to find.
Invasion of the Quarterback Questions
The Denver Broncos harbor questions beyond their wide receiver. Their quarterback position remains a nagging puzzle, apparent even before the Broncos’ training camp. The roster deception includes their wide receiver lineup behind Sutton, comprising players who are relatively unproven or inexperienced. These names include veterans like Josh Reynolds along with Marvin Mims Jr., Troy Franklin, and DeVaughn Vele, who are fresh off the bench.
Head Coach Sean Payton’s plate is full, deciding who among these names stands out to be the team’s starting quarterback. However, the endemic issue is that no matter who Payton chooses, the team’s heavy hitters may not be ready to compete.
Sutton’s Standoff with the Broncos
The possibility of Sutton’s standoff comes at a critical moment for the Denver Broncos. His presence enhances the team’s offensive capabilities. As long as the contract situation remains unresolved, the Broncos, and their new quarterback, will face a mounting challenge in getting their house in order.
Bo Nix, the potential solution to their quarterback question, hinges on the Sutton situation. Payton and the team’s General Manager, George Paton, would prefer the two to start working in tandem for better pass-route timing. This would essentially be the case during the 10 OTA practices kicking off the following week.
Despite Sutton’s unavailability that has led to increasing speculation around his future and potential trade rumors, the Broncos’ administration has expressed its commitment to keeping him. Fowler signified this sentiment reporting that the team has no plans to trade Sutton, who has already skipped voluntary workouts due to his contract dispute.
In short, as the standoff between Sutton and the Broncos’ management continues, the clock ticks towards the upcoming season. For Payton and the Broncos, the quicker this issue settles, the better the prospects for the team’s 2024 campaign.