The Denver Broncos already need a new quarterback to give Courtland Sutton the football as the 2024 NFL Draft draws near.
However, the franchise is now dealing with trade inquiries involving their Pro Bowl wide receiver.
Sutton emerged as the latest Pro Bowl name to surface as a trade idea on Saturday. One league insider addressed the rumblings and how Denver is handling the rumor.
Insider Details Courtland Sutton Trade Talks Including Denver’s Plan
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported that “multiple” offers have come to the Broncos involving their 2019 Pro Bowl wideout.
Fowler, though, added what Denver’s current answer is for the inquiries.
“The Broncos have received multiple trade inquiries on wide receiver Courtland Sutton, per sources. The Broncos do not plan to trade Sutton, who is skipping voluntary workouts due to his contract,” Fowler said on X (formerly known as Twitter).
The #Broncos have received multiple trade inquiries on wide receiver Courtland Sutton, per sources. The Broncos do not plan to trade Sutton, who is skipping voluntary workouts due to his contract. pic.twitter.com/whEgRhjyAf
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) April 20, 2024
Denver has already dealt away one member of its 2023 WR room in Jerry Jeudy, who was a former first-round selection in the 2020 draft class. Jeudy was sent to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for fifth- and sixth-round picks in the upcoming draft.
But regarding Sutton and his current deal with Denver, he’s on the final two years of his contract — the four-year, $60.8 million contract he signed. But that deal includes a potential opt-out for 2024. Sutton is due to make more than $13 million in his base salary over the next two seasons.
A few days before the Saturday report involving Sutton surfaced, Broncos general manager George Paton told Gabriel Parker of the Denver Post that he’s unbothered by Sutton skipping voluntary workouts amid the contract talks.
“It’s 100% voluntary,” Paton told the Post. “It’s the first week of the offseason program. Sean [Payton] has talked to Courtland. I’ve talked to Courtland. He’s in a good place, and we’ll just leave it at that.”
Yet, there have been no reports of both Sutton and the Broncos’ front office brass having a sit down to discuss a timetable for completing his deal. Despite Denver denying trade requests for its leading WR, Sutton could still generate lots of interest ahead of the draft.
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Trades for high-profile wide receivers are common during the draft.
Teams like the Philadelphia Eagles (2022 trade of A.J. Brown on Day 1 of that draft) and even the New England Patriots (2007 trade for Randy Moss on the final day of the draft) have pulled off wideout trades before during the April event.
Potential Fits for Sutton Include Division Rival With Familiar Ex-Offensive Coordinator
While Denver, again, hasn’t expressed interest in sending off the receiver who scored 10 touchdowns last season, this doesn’t officially bring the trade talks to a cease.
There will more than likely be teams attempting to offer a package to siphon Sutton from the Broncos. Here are the ones worth monitoring.
Las Vegas Raiders
It’s doubtful the Broncos would even consider making a deal with a bitter AFC West rival. However, here’s why the Raiders come into play.
Rich Scangerello is in place as the Raiders’ new QB coach — the same Scangerello who was the offensive coordinator behind Sutton’s lone 1,000-yard season (1,112 during his 2019 Pro Bowl campaign).
With the Raiders needing to find a complementary option next to Davante Adams, perhaps Scangerello can help convince head coach Antonio Pierce and general manager Tom Telesco to take a swing at getting Sutton.
New York Jets
Staying on the topic of coaches with ties to Sutton, former Broncos head coach Nathaniel Hackett could help persuade this move for Sutton.
Sutton managed to deliver his second-best receiving yardage output under Hackett, who is now New York’s offensive coordinator, despite the coach’s in-season firing in 2022. The Jets happen to need more WR help for returning quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
Sutton is worth keeping an eye on here.
Dallas Cowboys
While Sutton has no coaching connections to Dallas’ staff, the Cowboys are still needing WR help. An opening was created when Michael Gallup was released.
Many analysts believe Dallas will focus more on getting left tackle help in the draft and then filling depth at running back and linebacker from there.
But if it’s a veteran option the Cowboys seek next to CeeDee Lamb, Sutton would give Dallas a towering 6’4″ downfield option.
New England Patriots
Here’s a team that’s in need of any kind of downfield presence, especially if the Patriots take a quarterback at No. 3 overall.
Granted, New England could become enticed to draft Marvin Harrison Jr. third overall, or even trade down for Malik Nabers.
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But Sutton would give the Patriots a long-awaited tall field stretcher — plus someone who could help instill early confidence into whoever is behind center there.
New York Giants
Like the Pats, the Giants are in need of WR upgrades.
New York could become more convinced to take advantage of this deep class of wideouts in the draft. But Sutton could be drawn to playing in head coach Brian Daboll’s offense, which not long ago helped turn Stefon Diggs into a 100-catch wideout.