The Broncos have been good enough in the red zone to rank 10th in the NFL, but that hasn’t solved the bigger issue: when Denver gets close, there still isn’t a clear go-to target. And if you’re looking for the obvious answer, it keeps coming back to Courtland Sutton.
That was the conversation on a recent edition of “Dover and Cecil” on 104.3 The Fan, when Josh Dover put the question out there.
“Who would you consider right now, today on November 6th, the Broncos’ best red zone weapon?” Dover asked.
Cecil Lammey didn’t hesitate to point to Sutton.
“It should be Courtland Sutton right?” Lammey said.
That answer carries a little weight because Sutton has long been the receiver Denver leaned on in tight spaces near the goal line. This year, though, the production has lagged behind the reputation.
Through eight games, Sutton has 20 catches for 221 yards and one touchdown. Against Kansas City last week, he posted 4 catches for 53 yards, his first 50-yard game of the season.
Lammey’s case for Sutton starts with the traits that matter most when the field gets cramped.
“It should be Courtland Sutton because of his connection with Bo, because of his size. Because you can throw it up, a jump ball, and let the big man go get it,” Lammey said.
That logic fits the red zone better than almost anywhere else. Once the offense gets inside the 20, space disappears, defenders can crowd passing lanes, and winning a contested throw becomes a bigger deal than running away from coverage.
Sutton gives Denver that kind of option. At 6-foot-4, he has built a career on making catches with defenders hanging on him, and he has the most experience with Bo Nix of any receiver on the roster.
Two-plus seasons together have given the two a working rhythm on back-shoulder throws and fades, the kind of plays that can matter most near the end zone.
There are reasons Sutton’s numbers have dipped. Jaylen Waddle’s arrival changed the way targets are distributed.
Bo Nix hasn’t looked as comfortable throwing downfield early in the season, and Jonah Coleman has become a steady option out of the backfield. Earlier this year, Lammey also said the Broncos leaned on Sutton too much on third down last season and needed to spread things around.
Joel Klatt had predicted Sutton would have a better year because Waddle’s speed would pull attention away from him.
That hasn’t shown up yet, and Lammey believes the red zone is where Denver can start fixing it.
“I mean it should be Courtland Sutton, it just hasn’t been enough Courtland Sutton. We just got a taste last week. I want more Sutton,” Lammey said.
The Kansas City game offered a reminder of what Sutton still brings. He looked like the dependable target Denver has trusted before, and the offense produced its best fourth quarter of the season.
If the Broncos make him the featured option inside the 20, it would give Nix a cleaner, simpler read in the part of the field where possessions get decided fast. It would also ease some of the burden on a quarterback who has had issues with timing and pocket patience this season.
A jump ball to Sutton doesn’t ask for much from Nix beyond trust and placement.
Denver sits at 6-2 and first in the AFC, and its red zone numbers are already solid. But Lammey’s point is clear: the Broncos could be even better if they start treating Courtland Sutton like their top answer near the goal line again.
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