The Denver Broncos might have to just put up a huge message somewhere saying that Courtland Sutton is not for sale. Until then, the team will be predicted to trade him as has already happened hundreds of times.
The latest prognostication comes from Alex Kay at Bleacher Report who envisions a deal to the New York Jets during the 2025 season. In the deal, the Broncos would receive a fourth-round pick in 2026 and a seventh-round pick in 2027 in exchange for the veteran wide receiver. Here was Kay's assessment:
"If the Denver Broncos can’t rekindle the magic of 2024, the team could become sellers ahead of the trade deadline. One candidate to be sent packing is Courtland Sutton, the polarizing wide receiver now entering the final year of his contract.
Sutton has yet to earn an extension despite posting the best statistical performance of his career last season. The seven-year veteran appeared in all 17 games and caught 81 of his 135 targets for 1,081 yards and eight touchdowns. It was just the second 1,000-yard campaign of his career and the first since a Pro Bowl sophomore season back in 2019.
Injuries and inconsistency have plagued Sutton for the majority of his NFL journey, one that could be further negatively impacted in 2025 due to the presence of Devaughn Vele.
Vele, an unheralded seventh-round pick last year, is turning heads at training camp and appears to be the heir apparent to Sutton’s No. 1 receiver role. With him waiting in the wings and still having three seasons left on a dirt-cheap rookie deal, Sutton could soon find himself expendable.
The New York Jets could be very interested in Sutton’s services if he’s made available.
The club needs to find a running mate for top wideout Garrett Wilson after the failed Davante Adams experiment lasted just 11 games. With Josh Reynolds and Allen Lazard currently penciled in as the potential starters alongside Wilson, Gang Green would be wise to make a run at Sutton.
The receiver would provide far better support than new quarterback Justin Fields’ current options after Wilson and gives the squad a better chance of making a postseason foray."
The Broncos would be getting good compensation in return for a player entering the final year of his contract, but this prediction contains a lot of what-if scenarios.
The Broncos would have to be in a bad way record-wise to trade Sutton away before the trade deadline this season. After a Wild Card appearance last year, the Broncos figure to be in the thick of the AFC West race this season.
This deal also insinuates that instead of the Broncos, the Jets would be a playoff contender. Anything can happen in the NFL, but that seems to be a bit of a stretch for this year.
In addition, with the way the current wide receiver room shakes out, it's also a bit much to be calling Devaughn Vele the heir apparent to Sutton as the No. 1 wide receiver on the team. The Broncos may be better off looking to get an extension complete with Sutton at some point during the season and should only consider trading him if players like Troy Franklin or Pat Bryant, maybe both of them, take a big leap this season.
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