Courtland Sutton is in a good mood.
After the Broncos wideout spent the offseason in a contract dispute with the team, both sides found a solution last week, agreeing to add up to $1.5 million in achievable incentives for 2024, a source told The Denver Post.
Sutton’s smile following Tuesday’s practice indicated he’s glad to focus solely on football.
“I think it was made pretty clear that this is home for me,” Sutton said. “I’m grateful that we were able to come to some form of agreement to help both of us move forward.”
Sutton has a $13 million base salary this year and can earn up to $500,000 in per-game roster bonuses and $100,000 in other bonuses, according to OvertheCap data. There are two years left on his deal at cap hits of $17.3 million (2024) and $17.8 million (2025), but just $2 million of that is guaranteed, and none beyond this season.
While the amount of guaranteed money due Sutton didn’t change, according to a league source, the incentives did break what the 29-year-old receiver had previously considered a “stalemate” in negotiations.
Sutton finding peace with his contract has allowed him enjoy every aspect of training camp. From stretching in front of fans at Broncos Park to catching balls out of the jug machine and beating cornerback Pat Surtain II during one-on-one drills, football is back to being his anchor.
Sutton didn’t get to practice with his teammates during the voluntary portion of the offseason program. He was in Florida rehabbing from ankle surgery before returning to Denver for mandatory minicamp, where he participated in a limited capacity while negotiations continued between his representation and the team.
“Like a kid in the candy store, every little thing is big,” Sutton said about training camp.
The Broncos and Sutton being on good terms is beneficial for the offense. He is a reliable target in the red zone and provides leadership as one of the most established veterans in the locker room. Last season, Sutton finished with 776 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns.
Even though Sutton’s position in the wide receiver room seems solidified, the unit as a whole has one of the most intriguing position battles of camp. Second-year wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr. is fighting for a larger role. Meanwhile, rookie Troy Franklin and veterans Tim Patrick and Brandon Johnson are among the players competing for spots on the initial 53-man roster. In 2023, the Broncos had five wideouts on the depth chart.
“It’s similar to the quarterback room. … Guys are competing,” Sutton said. “We understand that there are a limited amount of spots in our room, but we’re all teaching each other (and) it’s a lot of fun to see the guys come to work every day with the right mindset.”
Sutton likes the diversity at wide receiver. He said there’s a good mix of size and speed within the group.
“I think all of our tall receivers aren’t just jump ball guys,” Sutton said. “And then when you add (Mims), we have those other guys that can beat you in between the hashes, and they can also go on the outside.”
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