The Broncos drafted Courtland Sutton in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft. The veteran receiver signed an extension with the Broncos in 2021 for four years and $60.8 million.
Now, the Broncos receiver is entering his eighth year in the NFL and a contract year. He has blossomed into a fringe No. 1 receiver in Denver, coming off his second 1,000 yard season.
Sutton has reeled in at least 58 receptions and 770 yards each year since his initial extension. His touchdown production has picked up over the last two seasons as well. After 14 touchdowns in his first five years in the league, Sutton has collected 18 touchdowns in the last two seasons.
If Sutton can replicate his 81 catch, 1,081 yard and eight touchdown 2024 season in 2025, he will be due for a massive extension.
After all, Tee Higgins just signed a four-year, $115 million extension with the Bengals. Now, some consider Ja'Marr Chase and Higgins as a 1-A and 1-B duo, but Chase is the No. 1 option in Cincinnati.
Higgins will be paid $28.75 million annually as one of the best No. 2 receivers in the league.
If you go down the list of the top-paid receivers in the NFL, Jaylen Waddle comes in at No. 10 earning $28.3 million annually as the No. 2 option, at least for now, in Miami.
Sutton is the Broncos' bonafide No. 1 receiver right now, and if he gets paid that way it'll be a steep check for the Broncos to write.
Chase set the record this offseason with his massive extension earning $40.3 million annually. Now, Sutton won't get that kind of money, but if you look through the top 10 highest paid receivers, it's an easy assumption Sutton's price range would land north of $25 or $30 million annually.
Meanwhile, the Broncos are only allocating a base salary of $13.5 million with a cap hit of $20.2 million to their No. 1 receiver in 2025.
However, there's another option. The Broncos don't spend the money and rely on their young receivers - on rookie contracts - to step up and develop into that No. 1 role.
The Broncos have four young receivers who will have the 2025 season to show the Broncos whether one of them can step into the role Sutton is occupying, or if Denver needs to think harder about extending their No. 1 receiver.
Marvin Mims was a second-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft and came on late in 2024, finishing the second half of the season with 446 receiving yards. If you calculate that for a full season, Mims would have reeled in nearly 900 yards in 2024.
Devaughn Vele had an impressive rookie year in 2024 after being drafted in the seventh round. Vele finished his rookie campaign with 41 receptions for 475 yards and three touchdowns. He also looked impressive at the Broncos OTAs.
Troy Franklin is a second-year player as well, drafted by the Broncos in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Franklin's rookie season wasn't as impressive as Vele's, but he has a connection with Bo Nix that can't be understated from their time at Oregon.
Franklin also had a very strong performance at the Broncos' OTAs and even earned praise from his head coach.
Lastly, the Broncos drafted Pat Bryant in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft. The Illinois product finished his senior year with 54 receptions for 984 yards and 10 touchdowns.
The Broncos have a lot of young talent at the receiver position and it'll likely be up to them to prove in 2025 that someone can step up to be the No. 1 guy for the future.
Denver will also have the contracts of All-Pros Nik Bonitto and Zach Allen up at the end of 2025. The Broncos won't be able to pay everyone, and with the deep, young receiver room, Sutton may be the one they let go.
