The Russell Wilson Era is all but over in Denver, which means the team could enter a rebuild and start sending away star players like wide receiver Courtland Sutton. After moving heaven and Earth to acquire a franchise quarterback in 2022, Wilson had a terrible first season with the Denver Broncos. Playing like one of the worst quarterbacks in the league, the Broncos fired first-year head coach Nataniel Hackett midway through the season and again missed the playoffs.
The Broncos hired Sean Payton to try and fix Wilson while salvaging this playoff-caliber roster. While the quarterback played like a starting-caliber quarterback, it wasn’t enough to get the team into the postseason. Their loss to the New England Patriots effectively ended their postseason hopes, and the team benched Wilson for Jarrett Stidham.
Chances are, the relationship between Wilson and the Broncos is too damaged to heal. The team will part ways with the quarterback during the offseason as they enter a rebuild. A rebuild means a youth movement, which means that talented veterans like Courtland Sutton could be subject to trade rumors over the next few months.
Courtland Sutton Hints At Trade In Farewell Instagram Post
For what it’s worth, Courtland Sutton seems to be aware that his days in Denver could be coming to an end. In a recent Instagram post, the former 1,000-yard receiver thanked Broncos fans for the support, notably saying “I know all things happen for a reason and I trust my Gods plan over everything including whatever is next for me.”
These are the words of someone who knows he might have a new home next year. Granted, trade rumors are nothing new for Courtland Sutton, as the wideout was the subject of several rumors throughout the offseason. Ultimately, nothing ever came of these rumors and he put together another strong season for the Broncos.
However, where there’s smoke, there’s fire, and Courtland Suttong might be on the move this year. Jerry Jeudy is still under contract, Marvin Mims showed some promise as a rookie, and the team can save $9.675 million in cap space with a trade. Plenty of teams should be interested in giving up a pick for his services, but these five teams are the most likely fits.
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers need a wide receiver like Courtland Sutton in the worst way. Bryce Young had a rookie season to forget, and his poor performance came from a lack of supporting talent. Adam Thielen was solid, but the rest of the wide receivers were terrible, and the offensive line couldn’t block anybody. Sutton won’t fix the offensive line issue, but his ability to win in contested situations is a much-needed skill. Additionally, he probably won’t net a first-round pick, which is good news since the Panthers don’t have one of those to trade.
New York Giants
Daniel Jones is coming back for one more season, and he’s not the type of quarterback that can elevate a poor supporting cast. However, he is good enough to get the job done with adequate receivers, so the Giants should try to add as much receiving talent as possible. Courtland Sutton can be what Kenny Golladay was supposed to be: a big-bodied perimeter receiver who can make tough catches downfield and in the red zone.
Baltimore Ravens
Lamar Jackson is the presumptive MVP, and it’s all because the Ravens finally got wide receivers that belong on a football field. Zay Flowers is a foundational piece of the offense and isn’t going anywhere, but Odell Beckham is set to hit free agency. If the Ravens lose him, they could target Courtland Sutton as a potential replacement. Baltimore has tight ends that can win in contested situations, but they could use a wide receiver who can win those 50/50 passes.
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are in a good spot. Thanks to their 2023 trade with the Carolina Panthers, the team has an abundance of draft picks and tons of salary cap space. With this in mind, they have the resources to splurge on someone like Courtland Sutton. D.J. Moore is a great receiver, but the Bears could use an upgrade at the WR2 position. Sutton is an ideal fit, as he and Moore have completely different styles of play. Moore’s shiftiness and Sutton’s big frame give Chicago more options for what to do on any given play. Whether it’s Caleb Williams or Justin Fields, the quarterback will be in a position to succeed.
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars collapsed hard down the stretch, finishing with a 9-8 record and missing the playoffs. This wasn’t supposed to happen for Trevor Lawrence’s squad, and this team needs to take a good, hard look at what went wrong. Jacksonville’s receiver hurt Lawrence’s production, and the Jaguars should look to invest in an upgrade. Courtland Sutton is one of the better options out there and should do well with a rocket-armed quarterback like Trevor Lawrence.
Main Photo: Isaiah J. Downing – USA Today Sports
