Courtland Sutton, a second-round pick by the Denver Broncos in the 2018 NFL Draft, has expressed a strong desire to remain with the team. Despite trade rumors, Courtland Sutton is committed to helping the Broncos end their playoff drought, win a Super Bowl, and eventually earn a place in the team’s Ring of Fame.
The Broncos have turned down trade inquiries for Sutton, a Pro Bowler in 2019, amid other roster changes. Head coach Sean Payton has emphasized that there have been no substantial trade discussions. He clarified, “It’s a little bit of a stretch relative to the specifics. We didn’t get nearly as far down the road as reported. It’s insignificant. For me to comment on every call that comes into George or myself would be ludicrous.”
On August 29, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reported that the Broncos had declined an offer involving a three-team trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers and San Francisco 49ers. According to Russini, the trade would have sent Sutton to the 49ers in exchange for draft picks, with the Steelers acquiring Brandon Aiyuk from the 49ers. The 49ers, however, opted to extend Aiyuk’s contract for four years and $120 million instead. Payton acknowledged the interest in Sutton but remained firm that no significant negotiations took place.
Sutton, who had a standout 2023 season with a career-high 10 receiving touchdowns, only participated in mandatory minicamps and training camp after holding out during the offseason in pursuit of a new contract. Despite his holdout, Sutton has consistently stated his desire to stay with the Broncos.
“This is where I want to be,” Sutton said in June on the “DNVR Broncos” podcast. “This is home, where I want to hoist the Lombardi trophy, retire, and hopefully earn a spot in the Broncos Ring of Honor. I want to showcase that I’m capable of being in that caliber of people.”
Throughout his absence, Sutton kept in touch with Payton and Broncos general manager George Paton, and worked with team doctors during his recovery from ankle surgery. The Broncos have remained steadfast in their decision, reworking Sutton’s contract to include up to $15.2 million in total compensation for the season, with $1.5 million in new incentives, as reported by NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
Sutton’s contract situation remains a key consideration as he enters the final year of his restructured four-year, $60 million deal, which is effectively a two-year, $27.5 million pact, in his age-30 season.