Sean Payton shuts down trade rumors surrounding Broncos stars

Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton shut down rumors of the team considering trading wide receivers Jerry Jeudy and Courtland Sutton.

The Denver Broncos got their new head coach in Sean Payton, and the team has begun being molded in his image. Specifically, the Broncos have retooled on the offensive side of the line of scrimmage, specifically on the offensive line.

But throughout this offseason, there have been constant trade rumors involving the team’s top wide receivers in Jerry Jeudy and Courtland Sutton. While there were numerous teams interested in their services, there was talk that Denver’s asking price was too high for their liking.

Broncos head coach Sean Payton spoke with NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero at the NFL’s annual league meetings this weekend and he shut down all talk of the team considering trading Jeudy and Sutton.

“I see and read just like everyone else does,” Payton said, h/t NFL.com. “Then occasionally, when someone really crowds the plate, I throw a fastball right at their chin, and they back up, and they’re like, ‘Alright.’ And so I haven’t thrown any fastballs lately, but we’re not trading those two players.

“When people call and the phone rings like it does this time of year, (general manager) George Paton’s job is to pick it up and say, ‘Hey. Tell you what, we’re not.’ And so, we’ve received calls, you bet. Those are two good football players. But we’re in the business of gathering talent right now. Why do people call? Because they know we’re void of draft picks and that we might, because there was some discussions a year ago, I think, regarding Courtland. But we like the current group that we’re working with.”

Broncos: Sean Payton shuts down trade rumors involving Jerry Jeudy, Courtland Sutton

Payton says the Broncos are in the business of gathering talent, and thus he has no desire to trade either Jeudy or Sutton this offseason.

Whoever became head coach of the Broncos had to have a plan to get a better year out of quarterback Russell Wilson, who had a huge drop off in production in 2022. So, since Payton arrived, they brought in offensive tackle Mike McGlinchey, offensive guard Ben Powers, wide receiver Marquez Callaway, and running back Samaje Perine. The hope is that these additions, along with Jeudy and Sutton at the top of their wide receiver depth chart, will help Denver, whose offense ranked last in points per game (16.9) last season.

Jeudy was the subject of trade rumors last trade deadline, but he ultimately stayed put. In 15 games last season, Jeudy hauled in 67 passes for 972 yards and six touchdowns on 100 targets.

Sutton, meanwhile, recorded 64 receptions for 829 yards and two touchdowns on 109 targets in 15 games played last season.

So after all the trade talk, Payton now tells the NFL world that he is not interested in trading away either Jeudy or Sutton.