ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — The Denver Broncos continued their stretch drive on the contract front Monday.
As players reported back from the team’s bye week, the Broncos secured wide receiver Courtland Sutton to a four-year extension, the team announced.
The deal is worth just under $61 million, according to multiple team sources, and includes $34.9 million in guarantees. Sutton will receive $18 million in the first year of the deal, the sources said. Sutton was scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent at season’s end.
Sutton, 26, missed all but two games in 2020 with a torn ACL and has returned to lead the Broncos in receptions (43) and receiving yards (617) this season. The Broncos also signed wide receiver Tim Patrick to a three-year, $30 million deal this past weekend.
It’s all in keeping with general manager George Paton’s pledge earlier this year to retain the team’s free agents whenever possible. Since March, the Broncos have signed safety Justin Simmons, defensive end Shelby Harris, Patrick and Sutton to multiyear deals.
“Courtland is one of our core players and among the best wide receivers in the NFL,” Paton said in a statement. “With his combination of size, speed, athleticism and work-ethic, Courtland is a special talent and an integral part of what we are building. It’s been a key priority to make sure he’s a Bronco well into the future. We’re thrilled to reach an agreement on this extension and look forward to Courtland’s continued growth and impact for the Broncos.”
The Broncos are still poised to have plenty of salary-cap room in the coming offseason — some projections put them among the top four teams in predicted available space — and already have 11 draft picks. Linebacker Alexander Johnson, cornerback Bryce Callahan, running back Melvin Gordon III and quarterback Teddy Bridgewater will be among their most notable free agents.
The terms of Sutton’s extension were first reported by NFL Network.