Team news: Denver Broncos | Page 28

Shortly after trading Emmanuel Sanders to the 49ers on Tuesday, John Elway was clear about who needed to lead the Broncos’ wideout corps.

“It’s Courtland’s room now,” the Broncos’ general manager said.

Courtland Sutton, the second-year wideout who’s tied for sixth in the NFL with 564 receiving yards, emerged as a big-play threat this season. Now, it will be up to Sutton — Denver’s No. 3 wideout when last season began — to take over the role as the team’s clear-cut leader in receiving production.

Related players: DaeSean Hamilton

Sutton was already the team's WR1, so perhaps the biggest step needs to come from Hamilton, who hasn't had more than three catches in a game this season as the team's WR3. Looks like he'll move up to the WR2 role.

After listening to offers over the last week, the Broncos traded Emmanuel Sanders and a 2020 fifth-round pick to the San Francisco 49ers for a third- and fourth-round selection in next year’s draft.

Related players: Deebo Samuel, Dante Pettis, Marquise Goodwin, Kendrick Bourne, Courtland Sutton, DaeSean Hamilton, Diontae Spencer

The 49ers now have a number-one target. The 9ers haven't got much out of their WRs this year: Samuel 15-169-1, Pettis 9-83-1, Goodwin 11-181-1, so Sanders should at least maintain his fantasy value with a chance to increase it as he gets more familiar with the offense.

Meanwhile in Denver, Sutton remains the WR1 with Hamilton and Spencer moving up the depth chart.

The quarterback locks this season are obviously Tom Brady and fourth-round pick Jarrett Stidham, which means HC Bill Belichick must ultimately decide how much he values Brian Hoyer's place on the team.

Hoyer, 33, has been very sharp in recent weeks, making it a strong likelihood of keeping three quarterbacks, the story said. But the story also added the team has only kept three QBs on the roster twice since 2009.

Quarterback Joe Flacco said that WR Courtland Sutton taking first and second team reps benefits him.

“He’s a guy that learns with a lot of reps and once he gets those reps, he never makes the same mistakes again and he has a really good feel for how to do things,” Flacco said. “That’s really the bottom line with him. You’ve just got to get him out there, get him the reps and let him build his confidence from there.”

The story said that Sutton’s dud of an opening practice feels like a month ago and he has rebounded to be mostly steady. Sutton is in a good spot to get noticed as Emmanuel Sanders (Achilles tendon) and DaeSean Hamilton (hamstring) battle injuries.

Despite the uncertainty of Emmanuel Sanders’ injury, Broncos’ general manager John Elway did not reinforce the receiver position by bringing in a proven veteran or two. Why? Elway wanted to give his young core receivers – Courtland Sutton, DaeSean Hamilton and Tim Patrick – room to grow.

Sutton, as the most talented of the young trio, is the key. Based on his offseason work with Flacco, Sutton does have a great chance to meet his own expectations and become the team’s No. 1 receiver.

The story said the team didn't have the money to add to the group of WRs after spending on other positions. And so the Broncos’ receiver group must count on the healthy return of Sanders and the continued improvement of Sutton, Hamilton and Patrick in year two.

WR Emmanuel Sanders said being available for the Broncos’ opener “feels realistic.”

Related players: DaeSean Hamilton, Courtland Sutton

As the tweet went on to say, Sanders isn't committing to a concrete timetable. But, it also went on to say Sanders is confident he can have a pro bowl season coming off his Achilles injury. Hamilton and Sutton should be in for nice seasons as well, and that could especially be true if Sanders has any setbacks or just isn't quite up to speed early in the season.