Broncos WR Courtland Sutton to attend mandatory minicamp amid contract dispute

Courtland Sutton‘s desire for a new contract won’t become an official holdout as Denver begins its mandatory minicamp next week.

During an interview with DNVR Sports on Thursday, the Broncos wide receiver said he will be in attendance after skipping the club’s voluntary offseason program.

Sutton stated, “I will be there. Just a small piece of information: not being at OTAs has been really hard for me. This offseason has been quite unlike any I’ve experienced since I’ve been in the league. Anyone who knows me or has played with me knows how much I love this game. I adore football. I put my heart and soul into preparing and competing in this sport.”

Sutton’s presence is great news for a Broncos team that’s headed for a three-way quarterback competition between Zach Wilson, Jarrett Stidham and first-round pick Bo Nix this summer, a situation prompted by the offseason release of Russell Wilson.

Sutton’s acclimation to a new QB is not an unfamiliar experience, having dealt with nine different starting QBs over six seasons. Despite the continuous changes at the QB position, Sutton has remained a steadfast figure for the Broncos, with a minimum of 58 receptions and 770 yards in each of the last three seasons.

In 2023, Sutton reached a career milestone, scoring 10 touchdowns (59 receptions, 772 yards), contributing to his franchise achieving eight wins for the first time since 2016. Sutton, who has only $2 million guaranteed money remaining on his present contract, is keen to secure his future with the organization and city that he has grown fond of since joining as a second-round pick in 2018.

He expressed his thoughts in a family-friendly manner, but the meaning was clear to his fellow players: “I would gladly sacrifice personal accolades to return our team to the playoffs, aim for the Super Bowl, and perform to our highest potential for the sake of our organization and city.”

As Sean Payton embarks on his second season as Broncos head coach, there is ample work to be done. The presence of Sutton will be beneficial in determining who will guide the Broncos into 2024, further assisting this process.