Denver Broncos: The crucial return of Courtland Sutton
The Denver Broncos were dealt some of the worst luck of any team in 2020. This is not an excuse. It happened.
From losing Von Miller for the entire season to wide receiver Courtland Sutton’s injury, Denver faced a massive uphill climb before the year even began.
In a perfect world, Denver would have loved to see all their weapons at full strength for an entire year. Arguments can be swayed to certain players, but there was one who was greatly missed every Sunday. It was Courtland Sutton, hands down.
Sutton burst onto the scene in his rookie year experiencing a bit of the issue Jerry Jeudy dealt with in 2020. Drops were a problem for Sutton, but the talent was evident since day one. Former Denver Broncos players were calling him “Baby Megatron.” He was making big play, after big play in practice.
During his rookie season, the Broncos parted ways with legend Demaryius Thomas leaving Emmanuel Sanders the veteran in the room. Halfway into year two, the Broncos shipped Sanders to San Francisco. In roughly a year and a half, the Broncos gave the reins to a young stud at wide receiver to be their number one.
In that second season, Sutton corrected the drops and refined his route tree to become a deadly force and best friend for quarterbacks. The 2019 season saw a meteoric rise with Sutton to where he entered a conversation of top 10 wide receivers in the NFL.
With three quarterbacks at the helm that season, Sutton put up 1,000+ yards. The year prior, he was darn near close to registering 1,000+ yards as a rookie.
Sutton is not A.J Green. Let’s cut that argument out. Some traits leave your jaw-dropping. He is a physical freak powerful enough to fight through contact with a stiff-arm or brute strength alone.
This is not Green. Sutton is also one of the better 50/50 ball catchers in the NFL currently. These players are not your typical 50/50 ball pass catchers. Sutton is more of an 80/20 or 70/30 receiver. A quarterback throws it up to Sutton and more often than not he will come down with it.
The other trait that Sutton brings is he is a willing blocker in the run game. Receivers capable to mix it up in the rushing attack are hard to find. This is why Sutton is a more complete wideout than people think.
As for his value to an offense, this is where 2020 falls in. This debate has happened numerous times of who is more valuable to an offense: a quarterback or a wide receiver. In either case, there are points for both.
Quarterback is the most important position in pro sports. Yet, in 2020 where an offense could not find footing in third-down conversions, in the red zone, or stretching the field consistently, Denver missed Sutton badly.
Drew Lock and Sutton were in rhythm in 2019 with deep, short, and intermediate passes. In 2020 where COVID-19 happened, the timing was repeatedly off with all receivers from week one to week 17. It was an inconsistent year all around.
Sutton, who became a slant and deep pass machine, would thrive in any situation from last year. Sutton on the field would have helped the production of third down and red zone especially. Despite averaging 20 points per game the offense would have put up more with Sutton in the fold.
This is a “woulda shoulda coulda” moment, but with Sutton in the fold, it would take the pressure off everyone else. It would have helped a player like Jerry Jeudy. The presence alone of Sutton and Jeudy in the same offense before the season started gave us goosebumps.
Unfortunately, we never really saw it. The presence of a number one wide receiver allows a player like Jeudy — who was nearly impossible to guard as a rookie — to be given more chances to excel.
Sutton’s presence alone changes the complexion of the offense. While Lock had his fair share of ups and downs, it is no doubt in my mind he would have played better with number 14 back in the saddle in 2020.
The return of number 14 will be a beautiful sight for Broncos fans and one that will be embraced knowing Sutton is back in that orange again.