Courtland Sutton inks deal, promises bright Broncos future

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — History says Courtland Sutton’s new contract may not age well, but the Denver Broncos receiver stayed loyal during some desperate times, and now he may get to see the club thrive.

Coming off of a career season that pushed the Broncos to their first playoff game in nearly a decade, Sutton inked a four-year, $92 million contract extension on Monday. The deal means the soon-to-be 30-year-old will be tied to Bo Nix through the young quarterback’s rookie contract. And just about everyone expects last year’s playoff jump to be the first step in a multi-year window of success under Sean Payton.

Sutton has been in Denver for seven mostly rough seasons, where the team’s record has been 48-68. But the receiver has been a standout, turning into one of the best targets in the storied franchise’s history. Sutton sits ninth in receptions (379), 11th in receiving yards (5,340) and is tied for 11th in receiving touchdowns (32).

“It is a legacy being able to be here, signing the contract. That was the biggest thing for me, being able to be here and bring back the years that Broncos fans have known,” Sutton said Tuesday. “The organization has such a long historical tradition of being successful. I’ve been here through the thick and thin — there’s a lot of promise on the other side of the horizon here. To be here and to have more years of being able to chase greatness with this great team that we have and with this great organization was one thing that I was looking forward to.”

Sutton has played in 98 NFL games, all in orange and blue. His finest year was last fall when he caught a career-high 81 passes. Sutton produced 1,081 receiving yards and eight touchdowns, which were each the second-highest season totals of his seven-year career. All the while, he became Nix’s favorite target, catching many tight-window passes from the rookie.

“He epitomizes what we’re looking for, and then we match that with his play. And I mean, just each box you’re checking, leadership, work ethic. I’m excited for him and for the club,” Sean Payton said. “Just his consistency… I’m glad you know we have an opportunity to coach him.”

If the deal works the way the sides hope, Sutton will end up in the team’s Ring of Fame and maybe with a championship ring as well. But history says the latter part of the new contract could be rough for the Broncos. Although the guaranteed money of $41 million hints that the end of the deal could be easy to get out of for Denver, that information is not yet public.

What is known is that there have only been 16 pass catchers since 2010 to record 1,000 or more yards in their age-32 season or older. Three of the years takced on to Sutton’s existing contract will meet those stipulations. Sutton is inked through his age-35 season.

“The contract isn’t the end-all be-all,” Sutton said. “The contract was just allowing me to have that stability, to say, ‘Hey, you’re gonna be here for the next four years.’ And the things that are possible are still attainable. And I look forward to chasing those.”

So the former second-round pick who once expressed doubts in his rookie year of belonging in the NFL will look to defy the odds again. Maybe you don’t believe he’s a player like Reggie Wayne, Larry Fitzgerald or Steve Smith Sr., who were all elite and aged well. But it is worth pointing out that Sutton is tied for the sixth-most touchdown grabs over the last two years, and he’s done that with a washed-up Russell Wilson, the revolving door that followed in that wake, and then with a rookie.

“I take every day as an opportunity to be able to play creatively within myself. You know, 1% better, whether it’s a football thing, whether it’s a life thing, whether it’s recovery,” Sutton said. “I’m always trying to find something to be better at, whatever it is I can be better at, and I just—complacency scares me.”

Sutton really broke out last year after Nix found his stride, hinting at a special connection between the two. Then there’s the fact that Denver is shallow at wide out behind Sutton and will be relying on Evan Engram at tight end, who missed big time last year. The Broncos could have been playing with fire, setting up Sutton to have another career year while needing to pay him.

Sutton’s new contract could very well look ugly in three years from now, but the move is a win-now one, and it signals just how much belief the team has in Nix as well as a payback of the faith Sutton has shown the club.

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