Courtland Sutton's desire for a new contract won't become an official holdout as Denver begins its mandatory minicamp next week.
During an interview with DNVR Sports on Thursday, the Broncos wide receiver said he will be in attendance after skipping the club's voluntary offseason program.
"I will be there," Sutton said. "A small tidbit: It's been killing me not being at OTAs. This has been a very different offseason that I've been a part of since I've been in the league. Anybody that knows me, anybody that's played with me understands that I love this game. I love the game of ball. I give any and everything that I possibly can when it comes to the preparation, when it comes to the competition of football."
Sutton's presence is great news for a Broncos team that's headed for a three-way quarterback competition between Zach Wilson, Jarrett Stidham and first-round pick Bo Nix this summer, a situation prompted by the offseason release of Russell Wilson.
Acclimating to a new QB is nothing new for Sutton, who's experienced nine different starting QBs across six seasons. Sutton has been a consistent presence for the Broncos despite the revolving QB carousel, recording at least 58 receptions and 770 yards in each of the past three campaigns.
Sutton scored a career-high 10 touchdowns in 2023 (59 receptions, 772 yards) for a franchise that reached eight wins for the first time since 2016. With just $2 million left in guaranteed money on his current contract, Sutton would like to secure his future within an organization and city he's grown to love since arriving as a second-round pick in 2018.
"Keeping it PG, but boys know the saying: I would give that up to be able to get us back into the playoffs and to go play for a Super Bowl and to be able to go out there and do what we know what we're capable of doing for this organization and this city," he said.
There's plenty of work to be had as Sean Payton enters his second season as Broncos head coach. Having Sutton there to help figure out who will be leading the Broncos into 2024 will only help that process.