Broncos' Sean Payton Expects Courtland Sutton to Attend Minicamp Amid Contract Rumors

Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton has not attended any part of the team's offseason program to this point as questions about his contract circle, but head coach Sean Payton expects that to change with next week's mandatory minicamp.

"Yeah, I think he'll be here for minicamp," Payton said Tuesday, per ESPN's Jeff Legwold. "... Man, I just know his work ethic, I know the player, and you know, there's a list of things that race through your mind in the offseason as a head coach. ... He and I have talked. I think that will work itself out."

If Sutton missed all three days of the mandatory minicamp, the Broncos could fine him up to $101,716.

Payton was also asked if he believes the wide receiver has not been present in the offseason program because of contract concerns and said, "it's not that he doesn't like our new uniforms."

Sutton has two years remaining on his contract and is set to make $13 million in base salary in 2024 and $13.5 million in 2025. According to Spotrac, he is also just 26th among all wide receivers in average annual value of his contract.

NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported in April that Sutton wants a new contract, and Jarrett Bailey of USA Today reported that same month that both the Los Angeles Rams and Pittsburgh Steelers asked Denver about the wide receiver's availability before and during the NFL draft.

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler (h/t Noah Strackbein of All Steelers) also reported on the Sutton situation last month.

"The Denver Broncos have been speaking with Sutton and his representatives," Fowler said. "No real progress yet, so even though they were hoping he showed up for OTAs, he very well might not be there. He is due about $13.6 million in cash this year. He'd like to see that get up to maybe in that $15, $16 million range. We'll see if they can find a sweet spot."

That wouldn't be a significant raise, especially for a 28-year-old wide receiver coming off a season that saw him post a career-best 10 touchdown catches. He also finished with 59 catches for 772 yards.

He wasn't quite as productive as his Pro Bowl campaign in 2019 with 72 catches for 1,112 yards and six touchdowns, but Sutton was still a bright spot for an otherwise disappointing 8-9 Broncos team that missed the playoffs.

Perhaps there is a compromise in store, but Payton still expects him to make an appearance in the near future.