Courtland Sutton skipping Broncos' voluntary workouts as WR seeks new contract

Courtland Sutton has seen a lot in his six NFL seasons.

He has witnessed numerous starting quarterbacks, with the 10th set to lead the team as he enters 2024. Sutton, who only has $2 million remaining in guaranteed funds on his current contract, is not ready to take on additional tasks. As he aims for a new contract, he decided not to attend Denver’s optional workouts on Monday, according to a report by Tom Pelissero, an insider at NFL Network, citing a source.

Despite this revolving door under center, Sutton has remained a consistent producer, catching 58 or more passes in each of his last three seasons. In 2023, he caught 10 touchdown passes despite seeing just 90 total targets, a final tally that tied him with the likes of three prominent tight ends in George Kittle, Kyle Pitts and Cole Kmet. Of players with 10 or more receiving TDs in 2023, Sutton finished with the fewest receptions (59), maximizing his relatively limited opportunities.

Now, he’d like to receive additional financial security as a reward for his efforts — especially considering the persistent uncertainty of Denver’s current quarterback situation. The Broncos dumped Russell Wilson after he failed to live up to expectations in two seasons spent in the Mile High City, and currently list Jarrett Stidham as their top option. They also shipped Jerry Jeudy off to Cleveland for a pair of Day 3 picks in early March, thinning out their receiving corps (and placing more responsibility on Sutton’s shoulders) prior to signing veteran Josh Reynolds.

As Sutton nears his 29th birthday and with the memory of a season-ending injury in 2020, his aim is financial security. There are no assurances that he will achieve the same level of success with Stidham or any other quarterback the Broncos might put forward as QB1 in 2024. Sutton’s goal is to safeguard his earning potential from the uncertainty surrounding the Broncos’ quarterback position.