Courtland Sutton Wants to Retire with Broncos, Says Contract Talks are at a Stalemate

Julia StumbaughJune 12, 2024

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Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton arrived at mandatory minicamp Tuesday but did not commit to attending training camp next month without a new contract, Arnie Melendrez Stapleton reported for the Associated Press.

“We’ll see what happens. We’ve got a month for things to get situated,” Sutton said, per Melendrez. “Hopefully things get situated because you know… this is where I want to be. This is home.

“This is where I want to hoist the Lombardi Trophy. This is the place where I want to be able to retire. This is the place where I want to be in the Broncos’ Ring of Honor.”

Sutton told reporters he considered skipping minicamp, which would have cost him more than $100,000 in fines, according to Stapleton and Ryan McFadden of the Denver Post.

“I wanted to make sure it was known that I was upset about the contract, how the conversation went about, and how the stalemate has persisted,” Sutton said, per McFadden. “I don’t think it was a high consideration because the point has been made. I’m hoping we can find a solution and get to the bottom of this.”

Sutton had previously skipped voluntary OTAs earlier this spring. Earlier reports stated these absences were contract-related, although Sutton said Tuesday they were related to his offseason ankle surgery, per McFadden.

The wide receiver is currently signed through 2025. He is currently set to earn a $13 million base salary in 2024, $2 million of which is guaranteed, per Over the Cap.

He is seeking a raise after making 59 catches for 772 yards, while tying for second in the NHL with 10 touchdown catches, as former Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson’s top target last season.

The Broncos may be hesitant to offer a large contract to Sutton given that he has 14 touchdown catches in five seasons prior, and that the team was recently burned on the Wilson contract. If Sutton’s holdout continues, Denver will need to decide whether making sure their top receiver returns next season is worth the risk.