The Denver Broncos are in the midst of a roster overhaul, most recently trading wide receiver Jerry Jeudy to the Browns just days after announcing that Russell Wilson will be cut and eating an NFL-record $85 million in dead cap money.
New reports are indicating that they might not be done cleaning house.
Chris Tomasson of the Denver Gazette reported that Analyst and former Bronco Mark Schlereth said, “I wouldn’t be surprised if they let go of Courtland Sutton.”
NFL analyst Mark Schlereth: “I wouldn't be surprised if (#Broncos) let go of Courtland Sutton. … Had a really good (2023) & made some unbelievable big-time catches but he just lacks overall juice ..explosiveness." Said a "minimum wage" player could get "close to that production"
— Chris Tomasson (@christomasson) March 9, 2024
Schlereth also added that “a ‘minimum wage’ player could get ‘close to that production.'”
Sutton is coming off a career-high ten touchdowns in 2023, but failed to go over 1,000 yards receiving for the fifth time in six years in Denver.
Aside from the 72 catches for 1,112 yards he posted in 2019, Sutton’s best single-season totals in each category were the 64 catches for 829 yards he posted in 2022.
Sutton and Jeudy have both failed to live up to expectations with the Broncos for years and are big reasons why this offense has consistently sputtered amid an 8-year playoff drought.
Schlereth said Sutton lacks ‘overall juice’ and ‘explosiveness’ which could be areas where Sean Payton and the front office look to improve upon this offseason.
This offense looked like it was stuck in first gear throughout much of the 2023 season and lacked any sort of consistency or versatility.
If Denver does decide to trade Sutton too, it might run into the issue of finding someone to take on Sutton’s money, as he is still owed about $35.2 million over the next two years.
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