Report: Broncos 'Quietly Shopping' WR Courtland Sutton

Is a deal about to go down?

With Tim Patrick returning from injury and Jerry Jeudy coming off a breakout year, there might not be room in the crowded Broncos wide receiver corps for Courtland Sutton, whose $60 million contract and subsequent dip in production have made the former Pro Bowler a potentially expendable commodity.

Indeed, NBC Sports' Matthew Berry reported after last week's NFL Scouting Combine that Denver is "quietly shopping" Sutton ahead of the March 15 start of free agency.

"Not actively pushing him, but definitely trying to see if there's a trade market for him and if they get a decent offer, would move him," Berry explained.

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It's unclear what the Broncos are expecting for Sutton, whose lone 1,000-yard receiving campaign came in 2019 — that is, pre-ACL injury. He's totaled 1,605 yards and just four touchdowns over the past two seasons, seemingly losing the see-ball, get-ball ability that earned him the lucrative extension.

The motive for moving Sutton, 28, is also unclear, especially if he doesn't return significant compensation. Denver would incur more dead money ($11.475 million) than salary cap savings ($6.791 million) by trading him prior to June 1, per OverTheCap.com.

With the arrival of new head coach Sean Payton and likely improvement of quarterback Russell Wilson — and despite general manager George Paton's trigger finger — there's an argument that Sutton is worth hanging onto, keeping the team's biggest strength together through the fall.

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