Across the opening days of this offseason’s free agency period, the Denver Broncos have been a team that’s opted to sell off more of their pieces rather than opening their checkbook to acquire new talent. With the cuts of Russell Wilson and Justin Simmons, alongside the dealing of Jerry Jeudy to the Cleveland Browns, it has begun to signal a brand new era in the Mile High.
However, even with the notable departures taking place over the recent weeks, it doesn’t mean the Broncos will see a complete overhaul without any familiar faces returning in 2024.
Among those familiar faces we could see back in the blue and orange for next season could be WR Courtland Sutton. According to NFL insider Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic, the Broncos aren’t currently shopping their veteran wide receiver after moving off of Jerry Jeudy, despite previous reports casting some doubt on his future in Denver:
“FWIW on the WR market: The Broncos aren’t currently shopping Courtland Sutton. Maybe there’s a surprise WR somewhere available but not many obvious, realistic targets at the moment.”
The news comes a few days after some speculation surrounded what’s to come next for Sutton once he removed all mentions of the Broncos from his social media. Now, it seems as Denver may want to retain their pass catcher for the next man under center.
Last season, at 28 years old, Sutton posted 59 receptions on 770 yards and ten touchdowns within 16 games played. While the team could ultimately save a few dollars in the situation of a cut, the impact he provides on the offensive side of the football may be too valuable to part ways with.
Especially in the event of a rookie quarterback being at the helm to start next year, having a reliable weapon to target will be immensely beneficial for their development. We’ve seen countless examples in league history of teams failing due to the inability to surround their young quarterback with a dependable supporting cast. It looks like Sean Payton is looking to avoid that undesirable fate himself.
Across the rest of this free agency and the NFL Draft, continue to keep an eye on how the Broncos’ front office chooses to upgrade this offensive unit. Still, expect Sutton to remain a constant as we roll into the 2024 season.