The Denver Broncos appear to have made a notable decision regarding Courtland Sutton’s contract.

As per Over The Cap’s Jason Fitzgerald, Sutton signed a four-year, $92 million extension with Denver in July 2025. His 2026 deal included a $12 million option bonus and a $4.735 million base salary.

However, the Broncos have reportedly chosen not to use the option bonus mechanism for 2026. Instead, Denver will take the full cap charge this year.

The decision pushes Sutton’s 2026 salary-cap charge to roughly $24 million. The Broncos can absorb the larger hit this season while lowering his future cap charges.

The move could also give Denver a clearer path to a decision on Sutton after the 2026 season. The Broncos will have more financial flexibility if they choose to restructure his deal or move on from the veteran receiver.

What the Broncos’ reported decision means for their salary cap flexibility

Courtland Sutton’s 2027 cap charge will now reportedly fall to roughly $26 million. His $10 million base salary becomes fully guaranteed on March 17, 2027.

That guarantee gives Denver an important decision before the 2027 season. The Broncos could move on from the wide receiver before that while creating cap savings. The contract structure also reduces Sutton’s future financial commitments.

Denver has therefore reportedly shifted more of the financial burden into 2026 while keeping greater flexibility for the following seasons.

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Sayantan