Broncos pick up Courtland Sutton’s contract guarantee

The Broncos seem unlikely to release Courtland Sutton after guaranteeing $2 million of his salary. A trade might still be possible, though.

Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton had a $2 million injury guarantee in his contract that was set to become fully guaranteed on the fifth day of the NFL’s new league year (March 17).

The deadline has since passed and Sutton is still on the roster, so that $2 million is now locked in for the 2024 season. Sutton’s base salary will be $13 million this year and his total salary cap hit will be just north of $17.39 million.

The Broncos could still save $7,745,588 in salary cap space if they release Sutton, but if the team planned to do that, he likely would have been cut before his injury guarantee became fully guaranteed. Sutton now seems more likely to remain in Denver, but a trade could still be in play.

Reports emerged last week that the Broncos planned to keep Sutton and defensive lineman D.J. Jones in 2024 despite their large cap hits. Denver could save $9.97 million in cap space if Jones is released.

Elsewhere on the contract front, right tackle Mike McGlinchey also had his $17.5 million injury guarantee for 2025 vested into a full guarantee on the fifth day of the new league year. The Broncos are now essentially locked into McGlinchey’s contract for the next two years.

Denver saved about $11 million worth of 2024 salary cap space when McGlinchey restructured his contract before NFL free agency. McGlinchey is a lock to remain with the team in 2024. Sutton and Jones seem likely to stick around, but trades can’t be ruled out in the coming months.

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Broncos used an NFL rule to lower FB Michael Burton’s salary cap hit

Thanks to the NFL’s Veteran Salary Benefit rule, Broncos FB Michael Burton will have a salary cap hit lower than his total salary in 2024.

The Denver Broncos re-signed fullback Michael Burton to a one-year deal last week. Terms of that contract are now known.

The Broncos utilized the NFL’s Veteran Salary Benefit rule to give Burton a lower salary cap hit than his salary, according to the Denver Gazette‘s Chris Tomasson. Burton’s one-year deal will have a total value of $1,377,500, but his cap hit will be $1,152,500.

That’s thanks to the VSB rule that helps veterans re-sign on cap-friendly deals instead of being replaced by younger, cheaper options on rookie contracts. Burton’s base salary will be $1.21 million, and he also received a $167,500 signing bonus.

Because his salary is not guaranteed, Denver could release Burton with a “dead money” cap hit of just $167,500 and a net savings of $985,000. The fullback seems likely to make the 53-man roster, though, after he played well on special teams and as a blocker on offense in 2023.

We are tracking all of the team’s free agency moves on Broncos Wire.

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Josey Jewell posts goodbye message to Broncos Country

“I’m leaving with unforgettable memories and so much gratitude toward an organization that gave me my first chance,” Josey Jewell said.

Josey Jewell left the Denver Broncos last week to sign a three-year, $22.75 million contract with the Carolina Panthers.

After the news of Jewell’s departure via NFL free agency became official, the inside linebacker posted the following message on his official Instagram page:

Broncos country! Thank you for welcoming my family and me 6 years ago. It was a dream come true to represent the city of Denver. 

To all my coaches over the years, training staff, cooks, front office, ownership, and especially teammates, my time here has been so special because all of you, so thank you for that! 

I’m leaving with unforgettable memories and so much gratitude toward an organization that gave me my first chance as an nfl player. ✌🏼Outlaw

Jewell, 29, played for the Broncos from 2018-2023, totaling 453 tackles, nine sacks and two interceptions in 78 games (58 starts). The Broncos replaced him with Cody Barton, who agreed to a one-year contract last week.

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Here are Wil Lutz’s contract details with the Broncos

Broncos kicker Wil Lutz will have a salary cap hit of $2.86 million in 2024.

After initially agreeing to a three-year contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars last week, kicker Wil Lutz changed his mind and returned to the Denver Broncos on a two-year deal instead. Terms of his contract with the Broncos are now known.

Lutz’s two-year deal has a total value of $8.4 million. He received a $3.3 million signing bonus that will be prorated as $1.65 million salary cap hits over the next two years.

This season, Lutz will have a base salary of $1.21 million (guaranteed). That salary combined with Lutz’s prorated signing bonus will give the kicker a total salary cap hit of $2.86 million in 2024.

Next year, Lutz’s base salary will increase to $3.635 million (not guaranteed), and he can earn an additional $255,000 through per-game roster bonuses. Those two figures combined with Lutz’s prorated signing bonus will give him a total salary cap hit of $5.54 million in 2025.

If the Broncos want to get out of Lutz’s contract next year, releasing him would result in a $1.65 million “dead money” cap charge with a net savings of $3.89 million. The 29-year-old kicker is entering his second season in Denver.

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Russell Wilson blames shoulder injury for 2022 struggles with Broncos

“I had my lat [injury],” Russell Wilson said. “I was playing on it, pushing through it. Should I have done that? You compete every day.”

After the Denver Broncos officially released quarterback Russell Wilson last week, he signed a one-year contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

During his introductory press conference on Friday, Wilson attributed his struggles in Denver to a shoulder injury.

“I think it’s all about how you look at it,” Wilson said when asked about two “disappointing” seasons in Denver. “I think in life, a lot of times when things don’t go your way you can look at it as disappointing or growth moments.

“For me, my first year, I had my lat [injury]. I was playing on it, pushing through it. Should I have done that? You compete every day. You got to do what you got to do. I think everything didn’t go our way the first year. This past year I felt like myself again. You know, so I can’t wait to just put on the cleats and go after it.”

Wilson suffered a “partially torn lat” in Week 4 against the Las Vegas Raiders in 2022, according to an ESPN report. In the three games before that injury, Wilson averaged 247 passing yards, 0.66 touchdown passes, three sacks and 0.33 interceptions per game. Denver’s offense averaged 14.3 points per game in the three contests before Wilson’s shoulder injury.

There were certainly contributing factors for Wilson’s struggles in 2022 — Nathaniel Hackett’s abysmal offense among them — but to suggest all of the struggles were connected to his injury seems to be a stretch.

Wilson did have a bounce-back year under coach Sean Payton in 2023, improving his completion percentage, touchdown percentage and interception percentage last fall. It wasn’t enough, though, as Payton ultimately decided to move on from the veteran QB.

A healthy Wilson now gets a fresh start in Pittsburgh.

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Here are Adam Trautman’s contract details with the Broncos

Broncos tight end Adam Trautman will have a salary cap hit of $3 million in 2024.

The Denver Broncos re-signed tight end Adam Trautman to a two-year deal last week. Terms of the contract are now known.

Trautman’s deal has a total value of $7.5 million. He received a $3 million signing bonus that will be prorated as $1.5 million salary cap hits over the next two years.

This year, Trautman will have a base salary of $1.5 million, which is guaranteed. That salary combined with his prorated signing bonus gives the tight end a total salary cap hit of $3 million in 2024.

Next year, Trautman’s base salary will jump to $2.745 million ($500,000 guaranteed), and he can earn an additional $255,000 through per-game roster bonuses. Those figures combined with his prorated signing bonus will make Trautman’s total salary cap hit $4.5 million in 2025.

If the Broncos cut Trautman next year, the team would take on a $2 million “dead money” cap hit (his prorated bonus plus $500,000 guaranteed salary) with a net savings of $2.5 million.

Denver, of course, will hope Trautman plays well enough to finish his deal. The 27-year-old veteran served as the team’s No. 1 tight end in 2023.

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Check out these highlights of new Broncos LB Cody Barton

Here some highlights of new Broncos linebacker Cody Barton from his time with the Seahawks and Commanders.

The Denver Broncos agreed to terms on a one-year contract with linebacker Cody Barton on Friday night.

Before landing in Denver, Barton previously started 16 games with the Seattle Seahawks (2019-2022) and 13 games with the Washington Commanders (2023). Here are some clips from his time with the Commanders last season:

And here are some highlights from his time with the Seahawks:

And here’s footage from both Seattle and DC:

Barton, 27, has totaled 352 tackles (including eight behind the line of scrimmage), nine pass breakups, seven quarterback hits, three interceptions, two sacks, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries in 78 career games (29 starts). He has started 24 games over the last two seasons.

After losing Josey Jewell to the Carolina Panthers during NFL free agency, the Broncos signed Barton, presumably as a replacement. The sixth-year linebacker will be the favorite to start next to Alex Singleton in 2024, but Jonas Griffith will also get an opportunity to compete for a spot this summer. Denver’s depth at the position gets a big boost with Barton’s arrival.

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