The Denver Broncos are embracing the tank, having recently parted ways with Russell Wilson, Justin Simmons, and Jerry Jeudy in the past few days. With the team starting down a rebuild, wide receiver Courtland Sutton is not hiding how upset he is at the Jerry Jeudy trade.
Originally selected in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, Jerry Jeudy was supposed to pair up with Courtland Sutton and form one of the best wide receiver duos in football. While the two never reached their collective ceiling together, both players had their moments. Sutton turned out to be the top target in the offense, recording 59 receptions for 773 yards and 10 touchdowns during the 2023 season.
This success is probably why the Broncos decided to trade Jerry Jeudy instead of Courtland Sutton. While the former second-round pick is still in Denver, it’s clear that Sutton is not happy about the situation. Just looking at his recent social media posts will tell you everything you need to know about his current feelings towards the team.
Courtland Sutton on IG. pic.twitter.com/2j6VF2vEpa
— Zac Stevens (@ZacStevensDNVR) March 9, 2024
— Courtland Sutton (@SuttonCourtland) March 9, 2024
Courtland Sutton Voices Frustrations After Jerry Jeudy Trade
This isn’t the first time Courtland Sutton has been the subject of trade talks, nor is it the first time he’s outwardly expressed frustration with the Broncos. When the team released Russell Wilson, Sutton deleted all ties to the Broncos on Twitter and posted an Instagram story with Wilson saying that “we were onto something.”
You don’t need to be a psychiatrist to see that Courtland Sutton is not happy and would probably welcome a trade. Sutton is the only proven receiver left on the depth chart, so the team might not be willing to part ways with the veteran. However, with Sean Payton talking up Marvin Mims and Tim Patrick agreeing to a restructured deal, the team might be willing to sell the veteran for the right price.
As of this posting, Sutton currently carries a $17.4 million cap hit, but the Broncos can save $9.75 million by trading the veteran. With the wide receiver entering his age-29 season and 2024 already being a lost cause, it could be in Denver’s best interest to trade Courtland Sutton, embrace the rebuild, and go all-in on 2025. If Denver decides to go down this route, several teams should be interested in the veteran.
Best Team Fits
Carolina Panthers
Death, taxes, and the Carolina Panthers search for a good wide receiver in the post-Steve Smith Era. The Panthers had arguably the worst passing attack in the league last year, but it’s hard to put all the blame for that on quarterback Bryce Young. While the first-overall pick had his share of struggles, nobody could have succeeded in such a terrible environment. Young may or may not be a franchise quarterback, but he’ll never succeed if he doesn’t have a reliable target catching the ball. Courtland Sutton would easily be the best receiver on this depth chart, and the trade target would provide a much-needed vertical presence and red zone target on the outside.
New York Giants
Whether it’s Daniel Jones or a rookie, New York’s quarterback is going to need better receivers if they want to succeed. With Darren Waller openly contemplating retirement, this team doesn’t have a single reliable pass-catcher on the roster. While some fans might have concerns about a big-money wide receiver known for contested receptions, Courtland Sutton is an ideal trade target who is coming off a strong season and is very much in the prime of his career.
New Orleans Saints
Derek Carr is as good as the sum of his pieces around him. This means that he’s not the type of quarterback capable of carrying an entire roster, but he can succeed with a good supporting cast. Chris Olave is a great possession receiver with the ability to stretch the field, Rashid Shaheed had wonderful deep speed, but this team needs a boundary threat and red zone target. Courtland Sutton is perfect for this role, and seeing as the Saints received plenty of compensatory picks, they should be able to trade for the wideout without sacrificing their ability to add in young talent.
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots are looking to trade DeVante Parker, and it’s hard to blame them for moving on. After a somewhat promising 2022, the wide receiver had a season to forget in 2023. However, with Parker gone, the Patriots will need to find somebody capable of winning with size on the outside. Courtland Sutton is basically a better version of Parker, and New England should trade for a much-needed proven receiver.
Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens had a shifty intermediate threat in Zay Flowers, a dangerous receiving tight end in Mark Andrews, and a good depth option in Isaiah Likely. These three, combined with reigning MVP Lamar Jackson, form one of the better skill groups in the league, but there is room for improvement. Baltimore has not been able to get the proverbial monkey off their backs in the playoffs, in large part due to a stagnant passing attack. The Ravens could trade for Courtland Sutton to try and provide some more firepower for both the regular season and the playoff run.
Main Photo: Gary A. Vasquez – USA Today Sports
