INDIANAPOLIS — There is no longer ambiguity about Courtland Sutton.
The Broncos are open on how they feel about their top receiver: They want him around, and they plan to talk to his agent about a contract extension at the NFL combine.
“Courtland is one of our guys. Team captain. I have said this for a couple of years in a row. We want him here. We will have those discussions at the right time,” general manager George Paton said Tuesday. “We will meet with his agent here.”
Sutton is entering the final season of a four-year, $60.8 million deal. He is scheduled to make $13.5 million in base salary next season with no guaranteed money remaining.
After Sutton elected to miss voluntary offseason workouts last spring, the Broncos revised his contract before training camp by adding incentives. He cashed in on an extra $1.5 million after catching a career-high 81 passes for a team-best 1,081 yards and eight touchdowns.
The Broncos played the waiting game with left tackle Garett Bolles last season before agreeing on a contract extension. Sutton, the second-longest tenured Bronco to Bolles, could ask for $20-plus million annually after posting 18 touchdowns the past two years. A possible comp is Tennessee’s Calvin Ridley, 30, who received a four-year, $92 million deal with $50 million guaranteed from the Titans last offseason, though he had the leverage of free agency.
Sutton turns 30 in October, but coach Sean Payton believes he has multiple good seasons left after emerging as Bo Nix’s favorite third-down target. Sutton is also respected by management and teammates for his leadership. He helped mentor rookie receivers Troy Franklin and Devaughn Vele.
“We felt like he had a really good season. He is important to what we are doing,” Payton said. “All of those (discussions with the agent) will happen in time.”
According to a source, the Broncos are not interested in pursuing oft-injured veteran receivers Deebo Samuel or Cooper Kupp, who would come at a high acquisition price in terms of salary and a draft pick.
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