Courtland Sutton again proposed as a Detroit Lions trade target

After being mentioned before, Courtland Sutton has again been named as a possible trade target for the Detroit Lions.

In the wake of the six-game suspension Jameson Wiliams got for violating the NFL’s gambling policy, the Detroit Lions could be considering if they’d make an addition at wide receiver. In a broad sense, there is a talent void to pay attention to.

Before the league year started, Matthew Berry of NBC Sports passed along some buzz suggesting the Denver Broncos would trade Courtland Sutton for the right offer. Head coach Sean Payton has naturally dismissed that idea, but the Lions have felt like a team who could have interest or be a fit.

Now deep into May, it seems the Broncos will indeed hang onto Sutton as they keep a full complement of weapons around Russell Wilson. But they did take wide receiver Marvin Mims in the second round of the draft.

In 15 games for the Broncos last season, Sutton had 64 receptions (on 109 targets) for 829 yards and two touchdowns. The previous season, he had 58 catches for 776 yards and two scores. He suffered a torn ACL early in the 2020 season, so his 2019 breakthrough (72 receptions for 1,112 yards) suddenly feels like a very long time ago.

Detroit Lions trade rumors: Courtland Sutton back again as a proposed trade target

Gary Davenport of Bleacher Report recently named some veteran wide receivers NFL teams should pursue in trades, with a couple prospective suitors for each.

The first of the two suitors Davenport tabbed for Sutton is the Lions.

"This is a trade that actually almost happened. Per Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic, the Baltimore Ravens and Denver Broncos nearly came to terms on a deal that would have sent Courtland Sutton to Baltimore."

Noting Nick Kosmider of The Athletic, Davenport offered the financial implications of a Sutton trade.

"If the Broncos were to trade Sutton after June 1, the move would provide $14.4 million in cap savings with a $3.8 million dead cap hit,” he said. “There probably would not be a significantly high draft-capital return at this stage — perhaps a fourth- or fifth-round selection in 2024 — but it would create cap savings and thin a crowded position.:"

Sutton has no guaranteed salary left on his contract after 2023, with two years left on his deal after this year. A trade may come in concert with a reworked contract to change that, but it wouldn’t have to happen. With a palatable out in 2024, he may only be in Denver one more season.

Davenport noted, and he’s right, that Sutton is more of a “fine-to-good” No. 2 receiver than a No. 1. And it can be argued the Lions already have a couple “fine-to-good” secondary receivers in Marvin Jones and Josh Reynolds. But Sutton does have more upside potential than Jones and Reynolds, probably put together.

The Broncos aren’t open to trading Sutton. Unless they are, given they reportedly almost had a deal done to send him to Baltimore. It’s unclear where the Lions’ interest level is, now or ever this offseason, if they have any. But Sutton is, still, a fairly interesting potential trade target.