Getty
Courtland Sutton #14 of the Denver Broncos speaks to the media before the AFC Pro Bowl practice.
Denver Broncos fans got worked into a frenzy on Monday, with the team preparing for the official start of the 2026 offseason, when Pro Bowl wide receiver Courtland Sutton dropped a cryptic message, which some interpreted as foreshadowing a trade request.
Sutton and the Broncos have been down this road before.
Rather than let the post linger without any further explanation, Sutton provided just that, giving the Broncos and fans some critical clarity amid swirling speculation.
Courtland Sutton Gets Honest Amid Broncos Trade
GettyCourtland Sutton #14 of the Denver Broncos celebrates a touchdown in the AFC Championship Game against the New England Patriots.
Sutton posted “Chapter closed” along with a praying hands emoji, which quickly drew the attention of not only Broncos fans and even some media, but also nationally. Sutton is one of the longest-tenured Broncos.
Any notion of his potential exit naturally raises eyebrows, especially given his history with the front office in Denver.
Sutton set the record straight.
“Courtland Sutton makes it very clear his IG caption “Chapter Closed” was talking about his eighth season being done,” DNVR’s Zac Stevens posted on X. “That’s it’s. All is good with Court and the Broncos.”
Stevens included a screenshot of Sutton’s latest Instagram story, which said, “I was obviously talking about Chapter 8,” along with a close-up photo of his dog.
Sutton will turn 31 in October, but it would have been a surprise if he were seeking a trade.
Courtland Sutton Got What He Wanted
GettyCourtland Sutton #14 of the Denver Broncos reacts against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Sutton and the Broncos navigated trade speculation for multiple transaction windows, leading up to a holdout from the offseason program in 2024, which coincided with a minor ankle procedure that he underwent in Florida.
However, Sutton and the Broncos worked out a four-year, $92 million contract extension in July 2025, securing his services through the 2029 season.
He is also coming off his second straight 1,000-plus-yard season, the third of his career.
Sutton was also named a Pro Bowler for the second time in his career. It is his first trip since the 2019 season, his second in the league. It capped the best two-year stretch since the Broncos selected him with the 40th overall pick in 2018.
Moreover, despite the Broncos’ initial hesitation in extending Sutton, they were also unwilling to trade him when given opportunities.
With a questionable group behind him, trading Sutton makes little sense for the Broncos.
Courtland Sutton Speculation Fished Out From Get Go
GettyCourtland Sutton #14 of the Denver Broncos makes a catch against the Buffalo Bills during the AFC Wild Card Playoffs.
Multiple members of the Broncos beat felt the speculation was not just out of hand, but completely off base.
“Context is important. The video in the post shows highlights from the past season. Every season can be consisted a “chapter” in a career. And the 2025 season has concluded,” Denver Sports’ Andrew Mason posted on X on February 11.
“Nothing to see here.”
Mason was not alone in bristling at the swift and incorrect reactions to Sutton’s post. Other members of the Broncos beat called out a significant underlying issue.
“Gotta just love that a widely used prediction market can post misinterpreted engagement bait that could directly influence future bets on its own platform,” The Denver Post’s Luca Evans posted in reaction to one betting site operator’s speculative post regarding Sutton.
“Awesome place we’re headed societally.”
Sutton has also been one of quarterback Bo Nix’s biggest supporters from Day 1. He has remained the top target in the Broncos’ offense in the time since.
Josh Buckhalter covers the NBA and NFL for Heavy.com. He has covered both leagues since 2016, including bylines at FanSided, Last Word on Sports and Clocker Sports. He’s based in Villa Park, Illinois. Follow Josh on Twitter and Instagram: @JoshGBuck More about Josh Buckhalter
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