Rumored to be at an impasse with the Broncos regarding his contract, Courtland Sutton said recently he is not certain he will show for training camp. It should be considered more probable than not the seventh-year wide receiver reports due to the hefty fines (at least $50K per day) that would pile up if he skipped. One sign Sutton is a decent bet to resurface in Denver next week: he attended throwing sessions with Jarrett Stidham and Bo Nix recently. An SMU product who grew up near Houston, Sutton was among the pass catchers in attendance at the Stidham-organized workouts, 9News’ Mike Klis notes.
Sutton showing represents a good sign for Denver fans. Though, the 6-foot-4 target missed nearly the entire offseason program — and time to establish a rapport with the first-round QB — before making a minicamp cameo. Sutton, 28, has angled for a raise. He is tied to a four-year, $60MM deal that runs through 2025. Only $2MM of the former Pro Bowler’s $13MM 2024 base salary is guaranteed, though the rest of it will lock in just before Week 1.
Here is the latest from the AFC West:
- Michael Gallup should be considered a good bet to make the Raiders‘ roster, but the Las Vegas Review-Journal’s Vincent Bonsignore classifies the longtime Cowboys starter as likely for a backup role in Las Vegas. Gallup (67 career starts) should be considered the lead WR4 candidate, per Bonsignore, with slot Tre Tucker expected to start alongside Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers. The Raiders guaranteed Gallup just $828K on a one-year, $1.75MM agreement. After being slowed by injuries, Tucker impressed during the Silver and Black’s offseason program. All parties involved have tried to cool Adams trade rumors. Unless the All-Pro target is dealt or an injury occurs, Gallup may well begin his age-28 season as a reserve.
- Jackson Powers-Johnson is ticketed to be the Raiders’ starting left guard if healthy, though Cody Whitehair and Andrus Peat represent potentially superior options for 2024. Long term, however, the Oregon center-turned-Raiders guard is poised to take over the LG spot Dylan Parham vacated by moving to RG. Powers-Johnson missed most of the Raiders’ offseason program, putting the reigning Rimington Award winner behind as he transitions to the pros. The second-round pick was out with a shoulder malady, per The Athletic’s Tashan Reed (subscription required).
- The Broncos‘ impact 2021 draft class featured Patrick Surtain and the recently extended Quinn Meinerz, but GM George Paton‘s first haul also includes outside linebacker starters Baron Browning (Round 3) and Jonathon Cooper (Round 7). Those two being in contract years could open the door for 2024 third-rounder Jonah Elliss down the road, but Klis notes the Utah-developed sack artist’s 2024 role will likely be as the team’s fourth OLB behind the Ohio State alums and Nik Bonitto. Elliss has recovered from the torn labrum that ended his 2023 season and limited him during Denver’s offseason program, Klis adds. The youngest of Luther Elliss‘ NFL-playing sons, Jonah will begin full work soon.
- New Chargers DC Jesse Minter moved Derwin James around the formation during the offseason program, making the team’s third safety spot more important. While the recently re-signed Alohi Gilman is entrenched as the starter alongside James, The Athletic’s Daniel Popper notes JT Woods and AJ Finley will continue their competition for the No. 3 safety role in camp. A 2022 third-rounder, Woods had a chance to unseat Gilman last summer but is no longer in the running for a starting role. Woods played just three games last season, with Finley — a 2023 UDFA — suiting up for 12. Summer addition Tony Jefferson, who decided to come out of retirement, also lingers for this part-time role.
For all of the questions about Paton’s free agency decisions (well founded ones), he has drafted very well with the picks that he’s had. The 2021 draft in particular was very good for Denver. That’s another reason that I was in favor the Broncos moving down for picks-Paton does better with those than with other aspects of acquisition. With Payton now calling the shots, however, the drafting will of course be heavily geared to his preferences.
Gallup could be a great reserve in Vegas, but he’s a very good option to have even up to being the second receiver, in my opinion. He could do a lot of what Meyers does, albeit on a lower level. Tucker is younger, but I personally like the lineup with Gallup as the third receiver just as well. It feels like he could have gotten a good deal with more prospective snaps in other places, to me. Vegas is getting a good value for that contract.
As for Powers-Johnson…if I’m a Vegas fan, I want to see him in the starting lineup over either Whitehair or Peat. Whitehair has slowed down recently from his quality first half of his career, but he could be a serviceable guard. Peat is not and never really has been an upper end player. Powers-Johnson looked promising at Oregon, and may become a quality professional starter, and it’d behoove the team to take advantage of his age and intelligent play to start him early. If Whitehair starts, I don’t that it’s bad, but I’d really not want to see Peat ahead of those two to start the year if I’m a Vegas fan.