A fascinating blockbuster trade proposal has the Denver Broncos moving out wide receiver Courtland Sutton in a three-team deal involving two playoff teams from 2023.
The 28-year-old Courtland Sutton is under contract with the Broncos for two more years, but he’s been widely mentioned in trade rumors since Sean Payton arrived as the new head coach a year ago.
The Broncos agreed to adjust Sutton’s contract last week, adding up to $1.5 million in incentives to his deal. Late in the 2021 season, he signed a four-year extension worth $60.8 million.
But the Broncos are in the midst of a retool, so GM George Paton should be open to dealing his No. 1 receiver for the right price. After all, he gave away a consistent 1,000-yard threat in Jerry Jeudy to the Cleveland Browns for two late-round picks.
Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox recently proposed a blockbuster trade idea that would see Denver deal Courtland Sutton to the Pittsburgh Steelers in a move involving the Los Angeles Rams.
Courtland Sutton enters this year as one of the most underrated players in football pic.twitter.com/pOpZzfpOg7
— Football Analysis (@FBallAnalysisYT) July 31, 2024
In Knox’s proposal, the Broncos would get the Rams’ 2025 third and Steelers’ 2026 third-round picks and wide receiver Tutu Atwell. The Rams would get Pro Bowl defensive tackle Cameron Heyward from Pittsburgh, while the Steelers would get Sutton and LA’s 2026 fourth-round pick:
“Acquiring Sutton would help ensure that (Russell) Wilson has the supporting cast needed to return to Pro Bowl form. While Pittsburgh doesn’t have a promising young receiver to send back to Denver, Los Angeles does. To facilitate this three-team deal, the Steelers could send standout defensive tackle Cameron Hayward to the Rams…
While the Rams have just $9.2 million in cap space, they could potentially solve two pieces of the puzzle by giving Heyward a new back-loaded contract. He’d help ease the loss of Aaron Donald to retirement while helping L.A. make a return trip to the postseason.
The Steelers would land the No. 2 receiver they’re lacking, while the Broncos would get more pieces to support their ongoing rebuild.”
Pat Surtain going up against Courtland Sutton 👀 pic.twitter.com/KpbLJ5CPX8
— Zac Stevens (@ZacStevensDNVR) July 31, 2024
The Steelers traded Diontae Johnson to the Carolina Panthers, opening up a void at the No. 2 WR spot behind George Pickens. The signing of Russell Wilson indicates that the Steelers are in win-now mode, and a player like Sutton could help them make the jump to Super Bowl contender in 2024.
Courtland Sutton Could Reach Another Level With A New Team
Sutton has put up over 700 yards receiving in each of his five healthy NFL seasons (he missed all but one game in 2020. That’s impressive when you consider that he’s never had an in-his-prime quarterback throwing him the football.
So a change of scenery might appeal to Sutton, who has also never come close to sniffing postseason football. And the Steelers make perfect sense as a landing spot for the veteran Bronco.
