Latest news with #CourtlandSutton
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Broncos' Courtland Sutton makes PFF's list of ‘Safety-Blanket WRs'
Pro Football Focus writer Lauren Gray recently compiled a unique list describing the NFL's best safety blanket wide receivers. Gray's safety blanket measure is for the WRs who were their quarterback's top targets when blitzed/under pressure. Wide receiver Drake London from the Atlanta Falcons led the way with the 21.1 percent threat rate, while Baltimore Ravens WR Zay Flowers ranked third with a 20 percent threat rate. Fourth on the list is the Denver Broncos' own Courtland Sutton with a 19.7 percent threat rate. 'Bo Nix targeted Sutton 34 times when he was pressured as a rookie, and Sutton caught 19 of those passes for 289 yards and 13 first downs," Gray wrote for PFF. "He secured four of eight contested targets, tallied nine gains of 15-plus yards (tied for ninth most) and recorded a seventh-ranked 81.0 PFF receiving grade on such plays. "Sutton ranks sixth in PFF receiving grade on targets when his quarterback was pressured over the past three seasons (83.8). That mark is fueled by 55 catches for 851 yards, six touchdowns, 42 first downs and 27 explosive gains.' Sutton being a safety blanket for then-rookie quarterback Bo Nix helped the QB's transition in Sean Payton's offense. Sutton tallied 81 catches for 1,081 yards and eight touchdowns in 2024. Hopefully, Sutton can build off his productive pairing with Nix for 2025 and continue to be his safety blanket Social: Follow Broncos Wire on Facebook and Twitter/X! Did you know: These 25 celebrities are Broncos fans. This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: Broncos: Courtland Sutton makes PFF's list of 'Safety-Blanket WRs'
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Broncos Training Camp Ignites Fierce Position Battles
Broncos Training Camp Ignites Fierce Position Battles originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Denver Broncos fans are electrified as training camp nears, spotlighting cutthroat battles for roster spots. The Mile High faithful eagerly await breakout stars. Wide receiver, running back, and cornerback clashes will dominate the summer. Courtland Sutton is a lock at wide receiver, but the race for secondary roles is intense. Marvin Mims Jr. erupted for 434 yards and six touchdowns over 2024's final seven games, projecting to a 1,054-yard season. Rookie Pat Bryant will have a chance to carve out a role for himself in training camp. Second-year Troy Franklin flashed with 22 catches in 2024, and Devaughn Vele's 74.5% catch rate vies for snaps. The running back corps got a jolt with J.K. Dobbins, who rushed for 905 yards in 13 games in 2024. RJ Harvey's 23% explosive run rate from UCF challenges Jaleel McLaughlin and Audric Estime, whose 3.8 yards per carry underwhelmed last season. Advertisement Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton during rookie minicamp at Broncos Park Powered by CommonSpirit. Cornerback competition is fierce, led by Patrick Surtain II, 2024's Defensive Player of the Year, with 12 interceptions. Rookie Jahdae Barron, a first-rounder, threatens Ja'Quan McMillian's role in the slot, while Riley Moss holds the outside. Bo Nix, with a 66.7% completion rate in 2024's red zone, anchors a rising roster. Nix will have little to no competition this Summer, as his rookie performance earned him the right to be the starting quarterback heading into his sophomore season. Training camp will crown the victors. Who will own Broncos Country? Related: More from Inside the Broncos: This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 14, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Robert Griffin III Gives High Praise to Broncos' Bo Nix in Social Media Post
Robert Griffin III Gives High Praise to Broncos' Bo Nix in Social Media Post originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Denver Broncos will enter year two of the Bo Nix era in 2025, and there's a lot of excitement and expectation around it. The Broncos drafted Nix with the 12th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, and Nix started all 17 games for Denver in his rookie season. Advertisement The rookie quarterback led the Broncos to the playoffs for the first time since 2015 before losing to the Buffalo Bills. However, accomplishing the team's first 10-win season and playoff birth in nine years was more than enough for Nix to win over the city of Denver. Now, heading into his sophomore season in the NFL, many expect a big leap in year two for Nix, who will be surrounded by a loaded roster. With his No. 1 receiver in Courtland Sutton, the emergence of gadget receiver Marvin Mims, the addition of tight end Evan Engram, and the new two-headed monster of veteran J.K. Dobbins and rookie RJ Harvey in the backfield, the Broncos offense has a lot of potential. On Thursday, former Pro-Bowl quarterback and current NFL analyst Robert Griffin III took to social media to give his take on the Broncos' quarterback. Advertisement Griffin entered the league in 2012, making the Pro Bowl and winning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in his first season. The second-overall pick's career quickly went downhill, stifled by injury, but he knows the game and has a quarterback's mind. This isn't the first time Griffin has been impressed by Nix, or voiced his opinion about it either. After Nix's first preseason game against the Indianapolis Colts, Griffin took to social media to praise the rookie quarterback's performance. "Bo Nix was the most efficient QB in his draft class because of his ability to process complex schemes with ease and the QUICK RELEASE you see on this TD throw," RGIII tweeted (h/t BroncosWire). "He showed that going 15/21 for 125 yards with 4 scoring drives in his preseason debut and his creativity too." (Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images) Nix continued to impress in his next preseason game against the Green Bay Packers, and Griffin let everyone know Nix would be the top quarterback in Denver. Advertisement "I want you to watch how CALM AND CONFIDENT Bo Nix's feet are in connection with how INTENTIONAL he is with his eyes on the first throw," RGIII tweeted. "HE IS SEEING IT SO CLEARLY. His experience playing in multiple offenses throughout college is showing up in spades. Bo knows football." The young Broncos quarterback has definitely made a fan out of Griffin, and there's plenty more in Denver after his performance in his rookie season. Whether Nix is the most underrated quarterback in the league or not, well, we'll just have to watch and see how 2025 unfolds. Related: More from Inside the Broncos: This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 14, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Broncos had 1 player attend Chad Johnson's 'Wideout Workshop' in Miami
Former NFL wide receiver Chad "Ochocinco" Johnson hosted the first edition of his new "Wideout Workshop" in Miami earlier this week. It looks like there were at least 11 receivers in attendance, including Denver Broncos WR1 Courtland Sutton. Other receivers at the three-day workshop were Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, Jerry Jeudy, Tyreek Hill, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Elijah Moore, KJ Osborn, Jayden Reed, Robbie Chosen and Xavier Restrepo. Advertisement Johnson, 47, played in the NFL from 2001-2012, earning six Pro Bowl nods, two first-team All-Pro selections and one second-team All-Pro selection. Johnson spent most of his career with the Cincinnati Bengals, eventually hanging up his cleats with 11,059 receiving yards and 67 touchdowns. Johnson's "Wideout Workshop" follows the success of Von Miller's "Sack Summit" and "Tight End University," which was created by George Kittle, Travis Kelce and Greg Olsen. Sutton is shown in the seventh slide below: Sutton is also seen in this video: And he's shown in the 11th slide below: Sutton is also expected to connect with quarterback Bo Nix and other Broncos teammates for unofficial practices ahead of the start of training camp, although the timeline for those player-led workouts is unclear. Advertisement Denver's veterans will report on July 22 ahead of the start of training camp on July 25. Social: Follow Broncos Wire on Facebook and Twitter/X! Did you know: These 25 celebrities are Broncos fans. This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: Broncos: Courtland Sutton attended Chad Johnson's 'Wideout Workshop'
New York Times
19-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Could Nik Bonitto have a new contract on the horizon? Broncos mailbag
The Denver Broncos coaches and players are officially on summer break. The team's rookies report for training camp on July 16, with veterans set to join them six days later, on Tuesday, July 22. In the meantime, let's dig into some of your questions about the team coming out of its offseason program, which ended with last week's mandatory minicamp: Editor's note: Some questions have been edited for length and clarity. Advertisement How is Pat Bryant doing? — Robert R. The third-round receiver out of Illinois made noticeable strides as the team's offseason program progressed. What stands out about Bryant is that he isn't afraid to play in traffic. Even in the padless, touch-football setting that is OTAs and minicamp, you can see glimpses of the physicality that was an attractive part of the evaluation with Bryant. One other thing I noticed during the offseason program: Bryant is constantly seeking knowledge. I'd routinely see him during breaks in action talking to Courtland Sutton about routes or clarifying things with wide receivers coach Keary Colbert. 'He's good at the line of scrimmage,' coach Sean Payton said after Denver's minicamp last month, which featured a pair of impressive grabs by Bryant during red zone work. 'I would say he has exceptionally strong hands in traffic. … The bigger receivers that can block and are physical at the line of scrimmage … he showed those traits.' What will the RB room look like for the season opener? Will there be a featured back or by committee? Last year seemed to be by committee because no one separated themselves from the others, but I suspect that's not the desired approach. — Shane K. Payton is not a bell-cow kind of coach. He has never been a play caller who hands the ball to his lead back 20 times per game for a full season. He likes variety in his backfield, typically with two running backs getting the bulk of the work with a third rotating into specific situations. Still, the Broncos need less variance in their backfield than they had in 2024, when five different players led the team in rushing across 17 games. Javonte Williams, who joined the Cowboys in free agency, led the Broncos with 8.18 carries per game. That number ranked 34th in the league. Payton cautioned multiple times during the offseason program not to 'count' the running backs. There is no established pecking order. However, Denver used a second-round pick on RJ Harvey and gave J.K. Dobbins a one-year deal that could be worth more than $5 million in 2025. That investment suggests the two new running backs on Denver's roster will be leaned on to revitalize a running game that must be better for the Broncos to reach their offensive ceiling. RBs at work ⚠️#BroncosOTAs — Denver Broncos (@Broncos) May 29, 2025 Is it wise to gamble on Nik Bonitto's contract and wait a year — either paying full price for a top-five pass rusher or possibly having to trade him if they don't feel like the value is worth the cost — or should they try and get it done now and maybe still get a hometown discount? What's the latest on negotiations, and what's the best strategy for the team long term? — Jonah Z. Bonitto finished third in the NFL last season with 13 1/2 sacks and his 21 1/2 takedowns since the start of the 2023 season rank 10th in that span. He doesn't turn 26 until late September. He only became a full-time starter about a month into last season. He is an ascending player who has unique traits and plays a premium position, and he is entering the final year of his rookie contract. Those are the kind of players who get paid, and Bonitto is in line for a massive contract extension. Advertisement Brian Burns last offseason signed a five-year, $141 million deal with the New York Giants after being traded from the Carolina Panthers. He was 25 years old at the time and coming off a two-season run in which he totaled 20.5 sacks. Greg Rousseau, a first-round pick in 2021, signed a four-year, $80 million extension with the Bills in March, just before hitting free agency. He signed that deal on the heels of an eight-sack season for Buffalo in 2024. So, Bonitto is sitting in a position to earn an extension worth more than $20 million annually. The Broncos got two similar contracts done just before the start of the 2024 season when they extended Quinn Meinerz (four years, $72 million) and cornerback Pat Surtain II (four years, $96 million). That could very well be the timeline the Broncos are looking at with Bonitto. The downside of waiting to sign Bonitto later in the season or even just before he is scheduled to hit free agency in March is that a quick accumulation of sacks at the start of season could further drive up his asking price — and it would be counter to how the Broncos have recently done business with their young premium position players. Though the status of the negotiations has been kept quiet by both sides, it's fair to assume talks will heat up as training camp approaches based on Denver's recent financial maneuverings. Did the Broncos pick up J.K. Dobbins because they're worried about what they have in RJ Harvey or because Dobbins' skill set rounds out the RB room? — Alex L. I'm glad we have a chance to dispel this narrative that seemed to creep up as the Broncos' interest in Dobbins became public earlier this month. His signing had nothing to do with a souring outlook on Harvey, less than two months after the Broncos drafted him in the second round. If anything, Harvey has exceeded expectations during his early days in Denver. He's in tremendous shape and has shown a natural feel as a receiver. Truer tests of his progress and his immediate readiness to contribute will come in training camp and the preseason, but the Broncos have been pleased with his progress to this point and plan to have him be a significant part of the offense. The Broncos had their eyes on Dobbins well before they drafted Harvey. Free agency can be a wait-and-see affair as markets develop, and the sides ultimately were able to find common ground that gives Denver an experienced back who was productive last season and gives Dobbins the chance to show the significant injuries that erased the better part of three seasons earlier in his career are an issue of the past. It was always like the Broncos were going to add more than one running back this offseason, and Dobbins and Harvey profile as the type of 1-2 pairing Payton has consistently used in his offenses. I've seen Ben Powers as being a cut candidate after this season. What does the depth chart look like at guard? Who could emerge as a starter? — Matt B. It's too early to say whether Powers would be a candidate for release after this season. His play in 2025 will be the determining factor. Powers wasn't always perfect last season. He gave up three sacks, according to Pro Football Focus, after being charged with four in 2023. But Powers has been reliable and durable, starting all 35 games, including the postseason, since joining the Broncos. Releasing or trading Powers after this season would result in a dead-money hit of nearly $10 million, just as the Broncos are coming out from under the Russell Wilson dead-money hits of the past two years that totaled $85 million. The Broncos did not select an offensive lineman in this year's draft, which could be viewed as a sign of faith that they have plenty more to squeeze out of this iteration of the starting line. The Broncos have some experience on the interior of the line with recent late-round picks Alex Forsyth and Nick Gargiulo, and Alex Palczewski, who is arguably the team's top reserve lineman, has shown an ability to play at multiple spots. There is promise among that group. Still, the Broncos view continuity as an asset, and as long as the group up front continues to play well, they won't be in any hurry to break it up. Advertisement What or who do you anticipate being the biggest surprises on both sides of the ball this year? And I know it's early, but who is your undrafted rookie to watch as a dark horse to make the 53-man roster? — Dalton H. Fun questions. Let's start with defense. I think Dondrea Tillman is a guy to watch. Here is a player who played in four straight professional spring leagues (2021 to 2024) before the Broncos finally gave him an NFL shot last season. Not only did Tillman make the team, but he also contributed five sacks and gave the Broncos stout looks against the run as a reserve outside linebacker with unique size. His finish rate last season was impressive, and I think you'll see his numbers go up as his opportunities increase. I'll go with Troy Franklin on offense. Evan Engram is going to open up a lot of possibilities for Denver's offense, squeezing coverage toward the middle of the field. I think this will give Bo Nix more windows to get Franklin the ball in space, and there may not be anyone on Denver's roster who can go from 0 to 60 quicker than the second-year receiver out of Oregon. Payton's offense can be difficult on first-year players. It was clear Franklin was thinking too much at times last season. If he's more comfortable this year, and his spring provided promising glimpses that he is, his speed will be more impactful for the Broncos than it was able to be last year. Back at it 😤#BroncosOTAs — Denver Broncos (@Broncos) May 29, 2025 An under-the-radar undrafted free agent to watch is Kyrese White, who joined the team in May after impressing as a tryout player during rookie minicamp. The wide receiver room is jam-packed, and wrestling a spot away won't be easy, but White is a slot weapon who can be used in a lot of different ways and was an impactful special teams player in college. The former Utah State wide receiver is one to keep a close eye on in training camp. Why isn't John Ralston in the Ring of Fame? Floyd Little, Randy Gradishar, Riley Odoms, Steve Foley, Louis Wright, Haven Moses, Jim Turner, Paul Smith, Charley Johnson, Tom Jackson and Rick Upchurch all played under Ralston. All are in the Ring of Fame. The first Broncos winning season? That came under Ralston. Why isn't he there? — Alan V. Ralston did deliver the Broncos' first winning season, a 7-5-2 campaign in 1973. And the team's 9-5 record in 1976, the last of Ralston's five seasons running the team, was the best mark in the franchise's history at the time. He also drafted or signed many of the players mentioned above, a group that helped Denver reach its first Super Bowl in 1977, the year after Ralston was fired. But the bottom line is Ralston had a record of 34-33-3 with no division titles and no playoff appearances during his tenure running the Broncos. There are three other former Broncos coaches in the Ring of Fame: Red Miller, Dan Reeves and Mike Shanahan. Miller coached the Broncos for only four seasons, but he delivered the franchise's first playoff appearance and first Super Bowl berth, his 1977 squad putting the franchise on the NFL map. He had a 40-22 record, two division titles and no losing records during his four-year tenure. Reeves coached the Broncos for 12 seasons and won five division titles and three AFC championships. Shanahan piloted the Broncos for 14 seasons and was at the helm for the team's first two Super Bowl victories. The next Broncos coach to get into the Ring of Fame could be Gary Kubiak. Though Kubiak was only Denver's head coach for two seasons, he delivered the franchise's third Super Bowl in 2015. He was also the offensive coordinator for the Broncos teams that won the previous two championships, spent his entire nine-year career as a backup quarterback in Denver and was a trusted sounding board for John Elway. Another coach with a strong case: John Fox, whose Broncos teams won 72 percent of their games during his four years in charge (2011-14) and captured four division titles and an AFC championship in that period. Ralston helped set a competitive foundation for the Broncos after years of early struggles in the NFL. But his resume, in my view, simply doesn't measure up to some of the franchise's other impactful coaches.
