Two Broncos On Notice With Sean Payton Taking Over
The 2022 NFL season was a rollercoaster ride for the Denver Broncos, but not the kind that leaves you grinning and wanting more. Instead, it was more like a stomach-churning, please-make-it-stop type of ride.
As a result, two players face the heat for their underwhelming performance: wide receiver Courtland Sutton and outside linebacker Nik Bonitto. These Broncos are on notice, and with new head coach Sean Payton in town, they'd better shape up or ship out.
Sutton, 6-foot-4, 216 pounds, was supposed to be Denver's go-to guy in the passing game, but he looked like a shadow of his former self. Finishing the 2022 season with just 64 receptions for 830 yards and two touchdowns was a dramatic fall from grace for a player who totaled a 1,200-yard season and Pro Bowl berth catching passes from three different quarterbacks.
Sutton's strengths have always been his size, physicality, and ability to win contested catches. However, he struggled with dropped passes and a lack of separation from defenders last season.
Some attributed these issues to lingering effects from a 2020 ACL tear, but Sutton's weaknesses were hard to ignore even without the injury. His inability to create separation and limited agility made it easier for defenders to lock him down.
Meanwhile, the 6-foot-3, 245-pound Bonitto had a rookie season most would like to forget. The guy who was supposed to bring relentless pressure to opposing quarterbacks barely left a mark.
As a rookie second-round draft pick last year, Bonitto managed a measly two sacks, 10 solo tackles, and one forced fumble. He had his moments, but those stats are hardly what you'd expect from a second-rounder.
Bonitto has the potential to make an impact. His strengths include his quick first step, solid hand technique, and ability to bend around the edge. Unfortunately, these assets didn't translate into the production the Broncos needed.
Bonitto's weaknesses, on the other hand, were glaring. His limited agility and struggles against the run left him exposed and quickly neutralized by opposing offensive linemen.
Sutton and Bonitto both have a contract with the Broncos that put them in an uncomfortable position. Sutton is in the middle of a four-year, $60.8 million contract extension signed in 2021, while Bonitto, drafted in 2022, signed a four-year deal worth $5.8 million. The Broncos certainly didn't shell out that kind of cash for the lackluster performances these two delivered last season.
Enter Payton, the no-nonsense head coach who's taken the reins in Denver. Known for holding his players accountable, Payton won't hesitate to make tough decisions if Sutton and Bonitto don't rise to his standard.
The 2023 season will be a make-or-break year for these two, and they'll need to put in serious work to prove they belong on this team.
Bottom Line
So, what does the future hold for these beleaguered Broncos? For Sutton, it's about shaking off the remnants of his injury and rediscovering the form that made him a Pro Bowler in 2019. Sutton could reestablish himself as a dominant force in the league by improving his route-running and working on his hands.
As for Bonitto, it's about refining his technique and developing a more complete skill set. If he can improve his strength in the off-season and his ability to defend the run, he could evolve into a meaningful contributor.
Follow Mile High Huddle on Twitter and Facebook.
Subscribe to Mile High Huddle on YouTube for daily Broncos live-stream podcasts!
