ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — What Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton had called “an impasse” in June over his contract has now been resolved with an adjustment to Sutton's deal.
Sources told ESPN on Thursday that Sutton has had $1.5 million in incentives added to his base salary for this season: $13 million. Sutton already had $500,000 in roster bonuses on his contract for the season, and $2 million of his base salary was already guaranteed because he was on the roster at the end of March.
Sutton, who had said at the team's minicamp in June that he might consider reporting late to training camp, reported on time with the team's other veterans earlier this week and has been on the field in his usual spot on offense for the first two practices of camp on Wednesday and Thursday.
“[Broncos general manager George Payton and Sutton’s representatives] “We spent a lot of time in the summer just discussing it,” Payton said. “… It's good to have him back here. He brings leadership and a skill set that we like.”
Sutton and his representatives had hoped earlier in the offseason that additional money would be added to the deal. The Broncos, sources said, had resisted adding additional base salary but were willing to talk about the type of performance bonuses Sutton ultimately received.
Payton had expressed optimism throughout the team's offseason program that something would “work out” and said Tuesday that he expected Sutton to report to training camp on time.
“He and I used to have conversations about what his plans were for the summer,” Payton said after Thursday's practice. “… I don't think there's been a whole lot of change in how… [Sutton’s contract] It was structured, but it's good to have it there.”
Had Sutton skipped any days of training camp, he could have been fined $50,000 for each day he didn’t attend, according to the league’s collective bargaining agreement. Sutton, who led the Broncos and tied for fourth in the league with 10 touchdown receptions last season, had stayed away from the voluntary parts of the Broncos’ offseason program, including conditioning and organized team activities.
During minicamp last month, he said he “wanted to make sure it was known that, yes, I was upset with how the contract played out, how the conversation played out, how the stalemate has continued. But I also want it to be known that I love the game of basketball, I love the guys… I hope we can find a solution and get to the bottom of this because this is where I want to be and I just hope it's mutual.”
Sutton is in the third year of a four-year, $60.8 million contract he signed during the 2021 season.
The seventh-year veteran, who was the Broncos' second-round pick in the 2018 draft, also led the Broncos in receptions (59) and receiving yards (772) last season.
Sutton, 28, has 298 receptions for 4,259 yards and 24 touchdowns in his career with the Broncos. His best season came in 2019, when he recorded his only 1,000-yard season (1,112), had a career-high 72 receptions and was selected to his only Pro Bowl.
