Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton skips day one of spring workout program amid contract talks

The Denver Broncos began their spring workout program this week without star wide receiver Courtland Sutton, according to NFL insider Tom Pelissero. Sutton, entering year seven in the league, has a contract that runs through 2025, but only $2 million of his deal is guaranteed moving forward. He inked a four-year deal for $60.8 million in 2021.

The former SMU standout has worked with nine different starting quarterbacks during his time in Denver and will have a 10th in 2024 after the departure of Russell Wilson. Despite the quarterback turnover, Sutton has put up decent numbers. He had his first 1,000-yard season in 2019 before tearing his ACL in 2020. Though he hasn’t surpassed 850 receiving yards in a season since 2019, he notched a career-high 10 touchdowns in 2023 as Wilson’s favorite red zone target.

Through his first six seasons in the league, Sutton has accumulated 298 receptions, 4,259 yards and 24 touchdowns. He has yet to see a postseason run with the Denver Broncos.

The Broncos drafted Sutton with the No. 40 overall pick in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft out of SMU. While with the Mustangs, he was a two-time All-AAC first-team honoree. He’ll turn 29 during the 2024 NFL season.

Sutton isn’t alone in his decision to skip spring workouts. The Cowboys have two stars negotiating contracts who didn’t show up on day one – Micah Parsons and CeeDee Lamb. Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson, also looking for a long-term deal, was also absent.

For now, NFL team activities are voluntary. That changes when the mandatory minicamp comes around in early June. The team’s spring workouts are exclusively for strength and conditioning, as outlined by the CBA.

Sutton more valuable to Broncos after Jerry Jeudy trade

The Denver Broncos will eventually need Courtland Sutton on the field, especially after they traded away No. 2 receiver Jerry Jeudy to the Cleveland Browns. The Browns acquired their newest wideout from the Broncos in exchange for a 2024 fifth and sixth-round pick. After the trade, Cleveland inked Jeudy to a new extension for three years, $58 million, with $41 million guaranteed.

The Broncos selected Jeudy No. 15 overall in the 2020 NFL Draft. In 57 games over four seasons, he hauled in 211 receptions for 3,053 yards and 11 touchdowns. He has yet to break the 1,000-yard threshold in a single season, however, amassing a career-high 972 yards in 2022 while missing two games. Jeudy is coming off a season with 54 catches for 758 yards and two scores as the Broncos went 8-9.