Courtland Sutton Stays Locked In: ‘The Targets Will Come’ After Jaylen Waddle Joins Broncos

Courtland Sutton has led the Broncos in targets for five straight seasons. Denver’s blockbuster move for Jaylen Waddle changes the math in the passing game, but it hasn’t changed Sutton’s mindset one bit.

The veteran wideout made that clear Thursday when he spoke to reporters. His message was simple and direct.

“I want to win games. At the end of the day, I want to win games. I think last year, we saw what it would take for a selfless offense to be able to get to where we want to get to. I don’t think that we have any individuals or personalities in our offense that are saying, ‘Hey, I need this, I need that.’ I think we have a bunch of guys that are willing to put their pride aside and say, ‘What do I need to do for this team to be successful?'”

Sutton has lived that standard. He posted his third 1,000-yard season in 2025 on 124 targets and 74 receptions, earning his second Pro Bowl nod while the Broncos rolled to a 14-3 record and the AFC’s top seed.

Last Year’s Success Came From Shared Opportunity

Denver’s receiving room operated with real balance. Troy Franklin finished close behind Sutton with 65 catches on 104 targets. Pat Bryant grew into a bigger role down the stretch, averaging six targets over the final five regular-season games. Marvin Mims Jr. matched Sutton with 14 targets in the playoffs.

The ball moved around because the offense asked it to. Sutton saw the payoff firsthand and wants that same approach to carry forward now that Waddle has arrived.

Jaylen Waddle Brings a Different Look to the Broncos Offense

Denver sent three 2026 draft picks — including the No. 30 overall selection — plus swapped fourth-rounders to land Waddle and a 2026 fourth-rounder from Miami. The cost was steep, but the fit is clean.

Waddle has spent his first five NFL seasons carving up short and intermediate routes. He finished his Dolphins career with 373 receptions for 5,039 yards and 26 touchdowns. Those numbers reflect a player who consistently finds space underneath and turns short throws into positive plays.

Paired with Sutton’s physical presence on the outside, Waddle gives third-year quarterback Bo Nix another reliable option that should force defenses to respect the entire field. That, in turn, should create cleaner looks for the rest of the room — Franklin, Bryant, and Mims included.

Waddle Sees the Benefit of Playing Opposite Sutton

Waddle sounded just as bought-in during the same media availability.

“Courtland is an elite playmaker, so anytime you have a playmaker on the other side of you, it just makes it easy. It’s someone that the defense has to be looking for, and vice versa.”

Two proven targets on opposite sides of the formation create constant conflict for opposing secondaries. Sutton has seen enough football to know the math usually works out if everyone stays on the same page.

“I always say, the ball is going to find you no matter what,” Sutton added. “You just need to go out there and do your job.”

Why This Room Feels Different Entering 2026

The Broncos added Waddle’s skill set to a group that already showed it could win without one dominant alpha hogging targets. That combination — established production plus new dynamic speed — gives Sean Payton’s offense multiple ways to attack.

Sutton has been through the lean years in Denver. He has watched the franchise climb back to the top of the AFC. His words Thursday carried the weight of someone who has earned the right to speak plainly about what actually moves the needle.

Winning has always been the filter. Everything else, including target totals, is secondary.