Broncos contracts for Courtland Sutton, Tim Patrick looking like bargains

The Denver Broncos signed Courtland Sutton and Tim Patrick to contract extensions in the 2021 season, and they now look like bargains.

The Denver Broncos had two big-name wide receivers set to hit NFL Free Agency in 2022 before agreeing to in-season contract extensions.

Courtland Sutton and Tim Patrick were both slated to become free agents before general manager George Paton decided to give them new years and some well-deserved big money on contract extensions.

As it turns out, Paton was exercising a lot of wisdom and foresight in making these two deals.

First of all, no one really thought the Denver Broncos could afford to bring back both guys.

Second of all, no one thought they would even if they could.

Third, the deals signed by Courtland Sutton and Tim Patrick came in way under market value based on where other wide receivers have been signing in the 2022 offseason.

Former 2019 third-round pick Terry McLaurin has become the most recent star wide receiver to sign a new deal and this one — like all of the other big ones signed in 2022 — comes in at over $20 million per season.

Denver Broncos WR deals compared to other massive NFL extensions

Courtland Sutton signed a deal with the Denver Broncos for four years, $60.8 million at around $15.5 million per season.

Tim Patrick signed a deal with the Broncos for three years, $34 million at around $11.333 million per season.

Those two contracts, valued at $94.8 million in total money, are less overall than Stefon Diggs, AJ Brown, Davante Adams, and Tyreek Hill earned individually.

McLaurin’s deal is worth more than twice as much as Tim Patrick’s.

It needs to be noted that both Sutton and Patrick wanted to re-sign with the Denver Broncos and it’s not like their agents were fools. They knew they could probably get more money on the open market, but the Broncos offered them fair deals for their production up to last season.

Going forward, though, the Broncos have two very good receivers on bargain contracts by comparison to some of the deals these other players around the league are landing.

It’s been a great offseason for NFL wide receivers and based on what some of these players got, it’s hard to believe Courtland Sutton would have gotten less than $20 million per season on the open market.

When you look at the way Tim Patrick played the last couple of seasons and the deal a guy like Christian Kirk got, it’s not hard to see his path to $15-18 million on the open market as well.

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George Paton clearly had the foresight that this kind of wide receiver market could materialize, and instead of going young at the position, he brought back two core guys at very team-friendly rates.

Another win for the Denver Broncos in an outstanding offseason.