I love Cortalnd Sutton, just not enough to pay him.
By Adam Uribes
· Opinion
·
· 2 min read
With Zach Allen and Nik Bonitto due to get bumps in pay, one Broncos wideout may be left out.
As long as you ignore the Russell Wilson contract, the team of Payton and Paton (Sean and George) has produced a solid track record of keeping the Denver Broncos financially responsible. Looking at what they’ve done with the limited amount of resources, you can see that they have built a solid reputation for being steady with the purse strings. Under-the-radar moves like keeping linebacker Alex Singleton on a team-friendly two-year deal, signing up-and-coming Brandon Jones from Miami, while taking big plunges to shore up a depleted offensive line in Ben Powers and Mike McGlinchey show that the Penners' money is being spent wisely.
Keeping that in mind, if premium dollars are dolled out to retain veteran wideout, Cortland Sutton, it'll be a move based on vibes and intangibles but short on production.
Yes, while Sutton has been a modicum of good citizenry for the past few seasons, both on and off the field, the former Pro Bowl wideout is at a crossroads in his career, even if no one is saying that out loud amid the Broncos' resurgence. Sutton has been overt in angling for a new deal for the past two seasons, and while it hasn’t served as a distraction, the prevailing notion around town is that after being a good soldier during the P and P regime, Sutton is in line to get a new contract at the end of this season.
On the surface, it may seem like gaslighting for a reaction. But, squinting at the landscape behind the foreground can be a reminder that a deal for Sutton shouldn’t be considered a foregone conclusion. Especially if there are cracks in the façade that can make this an albatross of a contract (ok, now you can bring up the Russ deal)
As it stands right now, Sutton is the number one receiver and elder statesman of the young, but precocious Broncos. Does his production merit a massive pay raise? Take off the orange colored glasses, and that answer should be a no. His 80+ catches last season weren’t anywhere near the top 10 for the category, and it was just the 2nd time that Sutton has gotten past 65 catches since that one Pro Bowl season he had back in 2019. His 1,000-yard season? Good for the top spot on the Broncos, but not nearly as impressive as where it stands league-wide. (His 1,081 yards were good for 15th in 2024). If you weigh that this has been Sutton’s most productive year since 2019, rewarding him with a new deal shouldn’t be considered pressing.
If that was a bit sobering, sorry, now it's time to bring up Sutton's age. Sutton is only turning 30 come this October, but there are more “city miles” on Sutton than you may remember. Sutton hasn’t played a full season since 2019. Between the injury bug and navigating spotty quarterback play, nothing in Sutton’s resume says that he elevates the game of the guy throwing him the ball. His age also makes signing him to anything longer than a 2-year deal financially risky. Something else to consider, with the Broncos having Bo Nix on a rookie deal, the team will have financial flexibility to be able to retain key pieces like Allen and Nik Bonitto when the time comes. While there is a strong sentiment to keeping the band together for as long as possible, paying a guy heading into his non-prime years makes no sense.
It's admirable that Sutton sacrificed so much of himself to be part of this team, and equally as cold to be potentially jettisoned as soon as the franchise bounces back into a playoff team. From his circus catches on the field and his leadership in the locker room, Sutton has carved out a nice spot for himself in Denver. But paying a player with middling stats, advancing age, and having an uncertain future with an up-and-coming team also doesn’t make business sense when reviewed harshly. The NFL is called Not For Long for a reason, and Sutton’s time with Denver should be on borrowed time.
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