The Denver Broncos have officially parted ways with quarterback Russell Wilson, and wide receiver Courtland Sutton is not thrilled with the news. Originally acquired during the 2022 offseason, Russell Wilson was supposed to be Denver’s long-awaited heir to Peyton Manning. The team gave up a small fortune for his services, sending over multiple high draft picks before giving the quarterback a five-year, $242 million extension.
Unfortunately, the wheels quickly fell off the wagon. Wilson was among the league’s worst quarterbacks under head coach Nathaniel Hackett, guiding the team to an abysmal 5-12 record. While he showed some signs of life under Sean Payton, it wasn’t enough to save his job. Denver cut the quarterback before his extension officially kicked in, eating $85 million in dead cap in the process. While some in Broncos Country might be happy to see him leave, wide receiver Courtland Sutton is upset at the move.
Taking to social media, the former Pro Bowler first went to Instagram, writing that “we were onto something” in a story before deleting all ties to the Broncos on Twitter. Courtland Sutton is upset with the state of the organization, so could a trade be on the way?
Courtland Sutton Deletes All Things Broncos On Social Media, Could Look For Trade
While Wilson’s tenure in Denver was largely terrible, he and Courtland Sutton developed a nice chemistry. The former second-round pick finished the season with 59 receptions for 772 yards and 10 touchdowns as the two connected on some of the wildest receptions of the season.
10, 5, & 3 are my favs… All could be 1.@SuttonCourtland https://t.co/gDTY13cYR9
— Russell Wilson (@DangeRussWilson) February 22, 2024
For what it’s worth, Russell Wilson was not actively ruining the team last year. While he’s nowhere close to the player he used to be, the one-time Super Bowl champion had a decent season. Wilson finished the year completing 66.4% of his passes for 3,070 yards, 26 touchdowns, eight interceptions, and the 18th-best PFF grade out of 38 eligible passers. The Broncos were paying him to be elite, but the 2023 version of Wilson is still the best quarterback to grace Mile High Stadium since Manning.
Seeing as the Broncos ate a record-setting amount of dead money to part ways with Russell Wilson, the team will probably embrace a rebuild in 2024. This means that veterans like Courtland Sutton could be on the trade block, and several teams should be interested in his services.
Possible Trade Destinations
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers need all the help they can get at wide receiver, and Courtland Sutton is a perfect fit for this team. Bryce Young had one of the lowest average depths of target last year, in large part because the team didn’t have a receiver capable of making plays downfield. Sutton isn’t an elite separator by any stretch of the imagination, but the former Pro Bowler is one of the best in the league at hauling in contested passes.
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots are looking to move on from DeVante Parker, which means they’ll need to find someone capable of lining up on the outside. Sutton and Parker have similar games, but Sutton is a much better option in their careers. Whoever ends up starting for New England will need someone to catch the ball in the red zone, and Sutton could be crucial to helping develop the Patriots next quarterback.
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys have one of the NFL’s best wide receivers in CeeDee Lamb. However, they need another reliable weapon if they ever want to go on another deep postseason run. Brandin Cooks and Michael Gallup are both well past their prime and shouldn’t be relied on for anything more than just a small handful of targets every game. Courtland Sutton is the perfect complement to Lamb, and pairing him with a great quarterback in Dak Prescott could unlock his true potential.
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals had a decently efficient offense when Kyler Murray returned to the field, and they did it despite only having one reliable receiver in Marquise Brown. The Cardinals never found a true replacement for DeAndre Hopkins last year, and while Courtland Sutton doesn’t have the same resume as the three-time All-Pro, he has a similar style of play. Murray is at his best when he’s buying time and tossing bombs downfield, and that style of play meshes well with Sutton’s ability to win contested passes in tight coverage. This could be a match made in heaven for a team with more draft picks than they could possibly use.
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens knocked it out of the park with Zay Flowers, but they could use a second receiver. With Odell Beckham likely to leave in free agency, the Ravens need to find someone who can win on the sideline. Courtland Sutton might be the best available option, and the longtime Bronco should be thrilled to play with two-time MVP Lamar Jackson.
Main Photo: Gary A. Vasquez – USA Today Sports
