Sutton is coming off perhaps the best year of his professional career in 2024, is newly signed to a\u00a0four-year, $92 million contract extension,<\/a> and is primed to carry on into 2025 as the top option for second-year quarterback Bo Nix<\/a> in the passing game.<\/p>\n None of that seemed like a guarantee when the 2018 second-round pick got off to a slow start with Nix last year, but over the course of the season, their connection continually strengthened.<\/p>\n By the end of Week 18, Sutton logged career highs in catches (81) and targets (135), topped 1,000 yards for the first time since 2019, and set himself up to be part of Denver\u2019s long-term future.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s been a captain,\u201d head coach Sean Payton<\/a> said this summer. \u201cIf he didn\u2019t say a word, the young guys watch his preparation and his work ethic. Yet, obviously, his experience (helps) with all of those players. It really starts with his preparation in (the building) and on to the field.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s everything you want in a pro.\u201d<\/p>\n In 2024, he started slow but turned himself into everything Nix needed as a rookie trying to navigate his first NFL season.<\/p>\n Sutton finished third in third-down catches (30) and led the NFL in both third-down yardage (452) and first downs generated (27), according to Football Database data.<\/p>\n At 6-foot-4 and 215-plus pounds, Sutton gave Nix a big target to trust down the field and in traffic.<\/p>\n According to Next Gen Stats<\/a>, Sutton accounted for 45.7% of the Broncos\u2019 downfield targets, which was the second-highest share on throws of 10-plus air yards in the league.<\/p>\n That led to a lot of good (812 yards on downfield throws between Nix and Sutton), some bad (six interceptions on such attempts), and a clear trust built between the two.<\/p>\n Payton said this summer that Sutton reminds him of former New Orleans receiver Marques Colston, a seventh-round pick who went on to log six 1,000-yard seasons, 9,759 total receiving yards and 72 touchdowns over a 10-year career.<\/p>\n \u201cMarques was maybe a little quieter, but day in and day out, so consistent in their performance,\u201d Payton said. \u201cAnd then on gamedays, they were very similar. They both played split end, strong hands in traffic, really, really good football instincts. \u2026<\/p>\n \u201cWhen you get to know (Sutton), he doesn\u2019t have too many bad days. Those guys with the right energy, there\u2019s a lot to be said for that because you\u2019re going to hit some tough times and you\u2019re going to hit some walls during the course of any season. He\u2019s one of those guys who is part of the solution. Always.\u201d<\/p>\n Sutton turns 30 in early October \u2014 he\u2019ll celebrate the big, round number while the Broncos are in London<\/a> preparing to play the New York Jets \u2014 but has shown no signs of slowing down. Even in 2024, when he skipped the voluntary portion of Denver\u2019s offseason in protest of his contract status, Sutton showed up to training camp in terrific shape.<\/p>\n This year proved no exception.<\/p>\n \u201cCourtland has been having a really good camp,\u201d offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi said recently. \u201cHe looks to me even better than he did last camp.\u201d<\/p>\n As Nix gets more comfortable and more in command of Payton\u2019s offensive system, it\u2019s possible Sutton won\u2019t be such a frequent target \u2014 though the coach will still run a ton of stuff where he\u2019s the primary option.<\/p>\n With tight end Evan Engram<\/a> signed to be a matchup problem, a revamped running back room ready to share the load, and a series of young receivers all on the rise, Nix should be throwing to a more balanced set of options.<\/p>\n Still, the 2025 season will be a surprise if anybody other than Sutton ends up leading the Broncos in receiving yards, targets or catches this fall.<\/p>\n \u201cI take every day as an opportunity to be able to chase greatness within myself and get 1% better, whether it\u2019s a football thing, whether it\u2019s a life thing, whether it\u2019s recovery, film, pre-practice, post-practice, all these different things,\u201d Sutton said. \u201cI feel like if you get to a place of complacency in your life, whether it\u2019s career-wise or personal, then you get to a spot where you\u2019re no longer able to grow. There\u2019s always (room for) growth.<\/p>\n \u201cI tell the young guys all the time, I\u2019m always trying to find different ways to master and become better at my craft on and off the field. I\u2019m a thief when it comes to finding different ways to be better.\u201d<\/p>\n Third down receiving, 2024<\/p>\n Broncos quarterback Bo Nix often looked Courtland Sutton\u2019s way on third downs last season, and for good reason: Few in the league were better at converting those passes into first downs. Mobile users, tap here to see the chart<\/a>.<\/p>\n Player Courtland Sutton Amon-Ra St. Brown Justin Jefferson Terry McLaurin Khalil Shakir Malik Nabers Calvin Ridley Davante Adams Tee Higgins Wan\u2019Dale Robinson *Source: Football Database\u00a0<\/p>\n![\"Denver](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/TDP-L-BRONCOS-TRAINING-CAMP_JAC4885.jpg\")
Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton talks to Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton (14) and QB Bo Nix (10) during training camp at Broncos Park Powered by CommonSpirit in Centennial on Thursday, July 31, 2025. (Photo by Andy Cross\/The Denver Post)<\/p>\n
\nTeam
\nYards
\nCatches
\nTargets
\nAverage
\nFirst downs<\/p>\n
\nDenver
\n452
\n30
\n48
\n15.1
\n27<\/p>\n
\nDetroit
\n412
\n31
\n41
\n13.3
\n26<\/p>\n
\nMinnesota
\n357
\n21
\n41
\n17.0
\n18<\/p>\n
\nWashington
\n353
\n21
\n33
\n16.8
\n19<\/p>\n
\nBuffalo
\n348
\n22
\n30
\n15.8
\n15<\/p>\n
\nN.Y. Giants
\n342
\n24
\n35
\n14.3
\n17<\/p>\n
\nTennessee
\n330
\n16
\n36
\n20.6
\n12<\/p>\n
\nN.Y. Jets
\n315
\n17
\n28
\n18.5
\n13<\/p>\n
\nCincinnati
\n312
\n20
\n33
\n15.6
\n18<\/p>\n
\nN.Y. Giants
\n304
\n34
\n58
\n8.9
\n17<\/p>\n