Brandon Aiyuk and the San Francisco 49ers had the entire league speculating about whether he would be traded or receive a contract extension. Teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Browns, and Washington Commanders showed interest in Aiyuk through trade discussions.
Reporter Andrew Mason noted that Broncos head coach Sean Payton responded to these rumors by indicating that the deal didn’t progress very far. “Over the past three months, multiple teams have inquired about Courtland Sutton,” Payton mentioned.
Regarding the 49ers deal, Payton added, “We didn’t get as far into the process as might have been suggested.”
The Athletic’s Diana Russini was the first to report the trade details. She indicated that the 49ers were only willing to trade Aiyuk if they could secure a top-tier receiver as a replacement. The Steelers were proposed to receive a third-round pick for Sutton, but the Broncos declined the offer. As a result, Sutton remains with the 49ers.
The Broncos are not currently interested in trading Courtland Sutton.
In the summer, the Broncos restructured Sutton’s contract, allowing him to earn up to $15.2 million this season, with an additional $1.5 million in incentives. Sutton maintained professionalism throughout, requesting a raise while attending minicamp and training camp as required.
Sutton had a standout season with the Broncos last year, recording 772 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns, thanks to Russell Wilson’s quarterback play.
Had Sutton been traded, the Broncos would have lacked depth at wide receiver, potentially impacting Nix’s performance. Instead, Sutton’s presence provides Nix with a reliable target, helping him build chemistry early in the season. With his new contract and Payton dismissing trade rumors, Sutton can focus on contributing to the Broncos for the time being.
