It would be rather odd if the Broncos resisted trading Courtland Sutton at basically every NFL trade window since the 2022 deadline, when the veteran wide receiver established himself as one of this period’s trade-rumor mainstays, and then deal him during a somewhat promising season. But, stop if you’ve heard this before, Sutton is in play to be dealt. Some around the league view the seventh-year wideout as “50-50” to be moved before the Nov. 5 deadline, per Sportskeeda’s Tony Pauline.
Sutton, 29, attempted to secure a raise from his $13MM base salary but only received a $1.7MM incentive package this offseason. Denver not budging would point to an openness to a trade, but the team declined a third-round pick for its top receiver from the 49ers, nixing what could have been a three-team trade with the Steelers during the Brandon Aiyuk saga. The Broncos had aimed for a second-rounder for Sutton during the 2023 offseason, progressing in talks with the Ravens before the AFC North club pivoted to an Odell Beckham Jr. signing, but centered their passing attack around him in Sean Payton‘s debut.
This season, the Broncos have needed Sutton to help Bo Nix‘s development. Sutton leads the team with 29 receptions for 377 yards this season, helping a club that is otherwise dependent on rookie-contract players — especially in light of the shooting involving Josh Reynolds. Marvin Mims has not become a factor on offense, as the 2023 second-rounder was viewed as the player the Broncos wanted to replace Jerry Jeudy. The Broncos have Sutton signed through 2025 on a team-friendly deal (four years, $60MM). No guarantees are in place beyond this season, likely opening the door to another round of trade rumors — in the event Denver hangs onto him before next week’s deadline.
With Diontae Johnson the latest receiver to move, here is the latest from the position’s trade market:
- Josh Palmer appears headed to free agency after this season. The former Brandon Staley/Tom Telesco-era piece has not assimilated too well in Greg Roman‘s offense, totaling 15 receptions for 243 yards and no touchdowns this season. The former third-round pick, who operated as key injury insurance behind Keenan Allen and Mike Williams under Staley, is not believed to be in the Chargers‘ long-term plans, Pauline adds. The Chargers have been linked to reacquiring Williams, and Pauline indicates the team would like to upgrade on Palmer, who has a chance to be traded. In a contract year, Palmer has a 769-yard season on his resume and has shown the ability to play in the slot and outside. The Chargers have seen Ladd McConkey take over their passing attack, though Palmer remains the team’s second-leading pass catcher.
- Speaking of Williams, he remains with the Jets. That is unlikely to be the case much longer, especially with the team falling to 2-6. Viewed as a trade piece when the team was 2-4, Williams has caught just one pass since the Jets acquired Davante Adams. Tied to a one-year, $10MM deal, Williams is viewed a near-certainty to be dealt, according to the Washington Post’s Jason La Canfora. Mentioning Christian Kirk‘s injury as a driver for the Williams market, La Canfora indicates the Jets had been trying to slow-play this market. (Though, Kirk’s injury did not seem to help the Panthers with Johnson’s trade value.) The Jets, who roster Garrett Wilson and Allen Lazard as well, have also talked Williams with the Saints and Steelers, each of whom also pursued Adams. Gang Green is not interested in moving Wilson, keeping Williams as the most logical trade chip.
- With Jakobi Meyers a Josh McDaniels pupil in New England who signed during the since-fired HC’s stay, he profiles as a trade chip for the Raiders. Las Vegas, however, had planned to hang onto the sixth-year wideout, La Canfora adds. Though, rival execs believe he could be a notable trade piece as the deadline approaches. Meyers, 28 next month, is due just more than $3MM in base salary post-Week 8 and is signed through 2025.
With so many available wideouts this close to the deadline, it certainly feels like we’ll be seeing some low returns for most of these guys. Any teams who might gain from having another target might consider keeping him in lieu of giving him away, like the Panthers did with Johnson. There look to be plenty of options. Of course, not all of these are confirmed, but with the Jets, Bills, Chiefs, and Ravens already making their moves, you would wonder how many buyers truly are left.
If a team like San Fran, Tampa, or Houston decides to take on rental, the price shouldn’t be high. But I don’t consider any of them to truly be a lock for that. The for sure buyers look to have already acquired their targets, and the teams left don’t seem like a sure thing. Any deal doesn’t seem to be expensive, though, so you never know.
Texans should look to add Palmer
I’ve got no idea why the Broncos would move Sutton at this point. But if he’s in the right frame of mind to prove to a team that he’s worth a new deal, then I hope the Steelers get back into the mix for him.