Courtland Sutton showed up to Denver Broncos minicamp on Tuesday and said all the right things, but anyone with the right representation knows what to say. Reading between his words, he doesn’t sound like a guy who wants to be on this team.
Sutton is looking for a bit of a pay increase from the Broncos before the 2024 season kicks off and when asked if he would consider holding out of training camp if that doesn’t happen, the first words out of his mouth were “You know, we’ll see”. That doesn’t exactly sound promising.
Courtland Sutton may want more money, but the Broncos have no reason to adhere to that request.
Courtland Sutton has no leverage in contract situation
Sutton has been consistent as a wide receiver, but far from elite. He has just one season over 1,000 yards receiving and though he had 10 touchdown catches last year, he had a total of 14 in his other five seasons combined.
Sutton has put up the kind of numbers that a good WR2 will put up in today’s league. But looking at the highest-paid wide receivers in the league, Sutton shares nothing with them. Here are the top 5:
Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings
A.J. Brown, Philadelphia Eagles
Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions
Tyreek Hill, Miami Dolphins
Jaylen Waddle, Miami Dolphins
Sutton is far from that caliber of player, but just for further comparison, here are the wide receivers who come in 6-10 on that list:
Davante Adams, Las Vegas Raiders
Cooper Kupp, Los Angeles Rams
DeVonta Smith, Philadelphia Eagles
Nico Collins, Houston Texans
D.K. Metcalf, Seattle Seahawks
That might be getting a little closer, but no one would rather have Sutton than any of these names. Sutton just had not played like a No. 1 wide receiver, so why pay him like one? He did make a Pro Bowl, but that was five years ago.
Sutton is coming off of a huge season in terms of touchdown catches. Only a few players in the entire league had more. If not for that number, this wouldn’t even be a conversation. He may also be banking on the team needing his veteran presence to support a shaky quarterback situation.
But the question becomes, does Sutton want to be with the Broncos?
pic.twitter.com/BjQOFCrnwz
— Courtland Sutton (@SuttonCourtland) March 9, 2024
But maybe even more importantly, do the Broncos even want to put up with this?
Sutton is the best wide receiver on this roster, but the team has started over with the moves they have made this season. Doing so at one more position is not going to make or break this season. Plus, it would allow for the team to forge on with a new group of young options such as Marvin Mims and Troy Franklin.
On top of that, how can this team even consider being held up for money after the debacle with Russell Wilson and his contract? It’s fair for Sutton to ask for more money but it’s also fair for the Broncos to say sorry, you’ll have to put together at least one more strong season, in response.
Sutton should either show up and play for what he is on the books to make this season or the team should look for the best possible return it can get in a trade.