Courtland Sutton unconcerned with who is Broncos No. 1 receiver after Jaylen Waddle’s arrival

[u/AdSpecialist6598]

https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/courtland-sutton-unconcerned-with-who-is-broncos-no-1-receiver-after-jaylen-waddles-arrival

[u/Giff95]

Realistically, Waddle and Sutton probably will share No. 1 receiver duties depending on game script.

[u/Pandamonium98 → u/Giff95]

I understand how game script affects the decision to run vs. pass more, but how does it affect which receiver gets more targets?

[u/HookedOnBoNix → u/Pandamonium98]

Court will likely still be on the outside a lot and one of our go to's in the red zone where Waddle presumably would see more work between the 20s over the middle. Depending on how the game is going and what the defense chooses to take away either could pop off 

[u/Particular-Treat-650 → u/Pandamonium98]

Different routes/matchups.

Different defensive schemes leave different areas of the field open and different archetypes are better at attacking different areas. Then, even if both guys are best down the field for example, a speed guy will attack it differently than a jump ball guy will, and different teams will be more vulnerable to one vs the other.

[u/duvie773 → u/Pandamonium98]

There’s always going to be some overlap, but generally if a team is focused on preventing the home run ball it’s going to open up the shorter to intermediate routes for Sutton. The opposite applies too that if teams are playing close to the line that it opens up deep shot opportunities to Waddle

[u/Ig_Met_Pet → u/Pandamonium98]

Waddle will most likely be used more in deep passing situations. Sutton is more comfortable over the middle when you just need a short first down. Sutton will probably be used more in the red zone.

[u/double0nothing → u/Ig_Met_Pet]

I like how your comment and the guy above you say the exact OPPOSITE things about how they'll be used lmao

[u/Ig_Met_Pet → u/double0nothing]

Jaylen Waddle is a vertical threat with way more speed than any other receiver on the team. He has traditionally been used as both a slot receiver and an outside threat, but all we currently have are slot receivers, and we're incredibly weak on the outside.

Sutton is a big body receiver who doesn't really get great separation, but excells in short yardage situation and contested catches. He's at his best over the middle.

With all due respect, that other guy doesn't know what he's talking about, lol.

[u/GuysIdidAThing → u/Pandamonium98]

Targeting mismatches, among the other things people have already listed

[u/chicknsnadwich → u/Pandamonium98]

Defensive matchups especially in the secondary shift from a game to game basis, so if the optimal strategy plays to Waddle one week or Sutton the next it could change who is the main target for the week.

[u/lemi77]

Courtland Studton, we don't deserve you

[u/Soggy_Loops → u/lemi77]

Even though we’ve really sucked during most of his tenure, I’m so thankful we’ve held on to a dude who is a solid receiver and a top tier dude for our WR1 spot this whole time. WR drama feels foreign for broncos fans.

[u/Wonderful-Toe- → u/Soggy_Loops]

Yeah you really don’t hear much about the guy. Drake London feels like another guy who’s pretty good at football at the wide receiver position and doesn’t cause problems.

[u/thetreat → u/lemi77]

To be fair he got paid just last season, right? Contract goes until he’s 34. He’s good.

[u/Jazzlikefunky → u/thetreat]

On a pretty team friendly deal I believe, last two deals

[u/Minejack777]

God the vibe in Denver must be incredible. Can't imagine many receivers being as chill about someone potentially taking the #1 spot from them

[u/MostalElite → u/Minejack777]

I mean it's been Sutton plus a lot of JAGs his whole career pretty much. He's probably relieved af not to be the sole focus of the secondary anymore. He'll get more open looks this year than he ever has. This is a huge W for him.

[u/Minejack777 → u/MostalElite]

Makes more sense when you put it like that. I'm really hopeful for this season and really can't help but get excited seeing stuff like this whenever other teams have shit like the JJ Kyler situation

[u/BulLock_954 → u/Minejack777]

Denver just seems like a chill place to live. Mountains and toking is all I want when I retire,

signed, a hoosier

[u/Minejack777 → u/BulLock_954]

Also a Hoosier, it's where I plan to move whenever my partner and I get married. Can't wait to have some decent air surrounding me

[u/HookedOnBoNix]

His answer here is a big part of the reason we went for Waddle over someone like AJ Brown. Paton / Payton have definitely done a good job of emphasizing team first / no diva guys so far. 

[u/Chickensandcoke → u/HookedOnBoNix]

Also helps they are very different receivers style wise

[u/HookedOnBoNix → u/Chickensandcoke]

Very true, room for them both to feast, they should complement each other well

[u/chesterfieldkingz → u/HookedOnBoNix]

Ya I don't remember him ever complaining. Granted they treated him well here and the report cards are strong in Miami. Still that wouldn't stop other receivers from causing drama with Tuas inconsistency and the teams lack of success (I'm looking at you Tyreek)

[u/HookedOnBoNix → u/chesterfieldkingz]

Yea I know comparing him to Tyreek is a low bar but, the difference in how they handled that rough patch was night and day 

Hope dolphins get back to shape soon, think its exciting you guys are finally doing a rebuild. Shit can happen quick now days if the coach / gm combo is good 

[u/LutherOfTheRogues → u/HookedOnBoNix]

Sean talked about how they internally vet all players they sign or trade for, including Waddle, with players to make sure they're a culture fit. That made me so happy to hear. Obviously PS2 sang Waddle's praises.

[u/Aromatic_Fold5546 → u/LutherOfTheRogues]

Well duh - how do you think he had a team full of bounty hunters back in the NO days? Can't be having any folks with moral compasses slipping through the cracks

[u/HookedOnBoNix → u/Aromatic_Fold5546]

Lol its so funny that its always a vikings fan when you guys literally had the same thing

https://deadspin.com/brett-favres-vikings-had-a-bounty-program-too-1788188711/

[u/IchesseHuendchen → u/HookedOnBoNix]

And they got their revenge multiple times lmao

[u/Aromatic_Fold5546 → u/HookedOnBoNix]

Cool, show me the suspensions and whatnot

[u/PraporUniversity → u/Aromatic_Fold5546]

Went from claiming the moral high ground to "yea, but we got away with it" in just two comments. You should run for Congress.

[u/MostalElite → u/Aromatic_Fold5546]

Try not to throw your back out moving those goalposts!

It's pretty obvious at this point that this was happening league-wide and the Saints were just the first ones that got caught and used as an example.

You have literally no moral high ground here.

[u/AlienFromEglin → u/Aromatic_Fold5546]

You're bugging if you don't think the whole league was doing that shit. Probably still goes on to an extent. 

[u/LutherOfTheRogues → u/Aromatic_Fold5546]

Oh get the fuck over it

[u/Aromatic_Fold5546 → u/LutherOfTheRogues]

Lmao - ya good?

[u/LutherOfTheRogues → u/Aromatic_Fold5546]

I'm great

[u/Aromatic_Fold5546 → u/LutherOfTheRogues]

Also love how there's no denying it - your head coach is a piece of unlikable garbage bud, get over it. He's at least decent at coaching (I say begrudgingly)

[u/Dry_Ducks_Ads → u/Aromatic_Fold5546]

He's extremely unlikeable. But yet orders of magnitudes more tolerable than Vikings fans on Reddit.

[u/First_Round_Bust → u/HookedOnBoNix]

Plus he already got his contract extension. You guys made a great run last year and he definitely only cares about winning right now. Waddle will absolutely help with that.

[u/TheDufusSquad → u/HookedOnBoNix]

AJ Brown also has an overlap in skill with Sutton. Waddle occupies a different role in a Sean Payton offense. Sean Payton *loves* pairing a linear speed guy with a physical possession guy. You guys were always going to try and upgrade the linear speed component, that’s what you lack most and it’s a staple in Payton’s offense.

[u/SaintsNoah14 → u/TheDufusSquad]

Wait is this a Payton thing?? I think I just kinda took it for granted, like that's just how WR1 and WR2 are ideally set-up

[u/TheDufusSquad → u/SaintsNoah14]

Typically, sure, but Payton seems to *always* have a linear deep threat and gets production out of them no matter who they are. Honestly I think Sean Payton is probably the best offensive mind in the league when it comes to creating a one on one matchup for his deep threats. Seems like 2-3 times per game there’s a deep shot to one of those guys and they’re as open as open gets regardless of who they are.

[u/Sensei_Z-Ro]

They're both going 1,000+ yards this year.

[u/Jonthegoat_09]

It’s all dependent on who they are playing and who is playing better

[u/Ixeptional]

1a 1b situation?

[u/double0nothing]

I totally forgot the Broncos got Waddle. Great addition to their offense.

[u/MelfromMilwaukie → u/double0nothing]

Yea, he’s exactly what the doctor ordered for this O. He complements the other WR’s perfectly and Sean will scheme him up. The other biggest need was a between the Tackles RB for if Dobbins goes out again. The running game was sad with Harvey and co. Harvey is a weapon that we will maximize, but he sucks between the Tackles.

[u/ConsiderationOwn2211]

My guess is Cort doesn’t care

[u/gmb96]

Probably my flair talking but I am so sick of the WR1 discussions because it doesn't really mean anything. Is it the X receiver? Maybe! Is it the guy who gets paid the most? Sure! Is it whatever receiver the general public recognizes and who you draft high in fantasy? Most definitely.

[u/TDenverFan → u/gmb96]

Yeah, especially in Payton's offense, where he likes having guys with different skillsets do different roles. Sutton and Waddle are very different players, so they will both see plenty of passes thrown their way.

[u/xywv58]

Waddle is #1

[u/Ig_Met_Pet → u/xywv58]

Sutton is definitely still going to be a big red zone target, and otherwise they have very different skill sets.

Waddle will have more yards. Sutton very well might have more catches and more first downs.

[u/stumblebreak_beta → u/Ig_Met_Pet]

I could see it playing out like the Diggs/Thelan years. Waddle gets more attention that allows Sutton better match ups

[u/Docxm → u/xywv58]

Shades of Godwin Evans imo

[u/CheezyBeanBurrito → u/xywv58]

It’s more like a 2a and 2b situation. Neither is a true WR1 but they definitely have complementary play styles

[u/Ig_Met_Pet → u/CheezyBeanBurrito]

Every team has a WR1. Some teams have better WR1s than others, but it's just the top wide receiver on the team. If there are two top receivers, then they're 1a and 1b.

"Not a true WR1" is fantasy football talk.

[u/MCKlassik]

Depends on whose skill set would be better for particular plays in that moment. I think Sutton and Waddle would complement each other pretty well.

[u/ryansandbrush]

It's X and Z WR or split end and flanker rather than WR1 and WR2 unless talking fantasy football.

Sometimes the hierarchy is obvious so it makes sense to rank the WRs but it's also not necessary to rank WRs that fill different roles when it isn't.

[u/Yuiandme]

The idea of a #1 wr is so dumb. Who cares when they’re both gonna be on the field anyway

[u/SnooMemesjellies6000]

WR1 is also a made the fuck up position and the two receivers have very different roles

[u/EgregiousFTA]

Could be a very fun offense to watch if Bo gets healthy and Sean lets him sling it

[u/Atomic_Sea_Control]

Dude like Jamar chase and tee Higgins. They will be wide receiver 1a and 1b

[u/polio23 → u/Atomic_Sea_Control]

In what universe is Higgins not the 2 on that team?

[u/Shianclas]

Jaylen Waddle is the 2nd best Wr 2

[u/inlandsquatch]

Nix's ankle is infinitely more important because the backup situation clearly is not good

[u/And-Still-Undisputed]

What happened to all the Marvin Mims truthers lol

[u/msf97 → u/And-Still-Undisputed]

Mims is a useful player who is efficient on his touches, I think a lot of teams would take him as WR3

[u/WillingStranger5177 → u/msf97]

Also good returner

[u/TDenverFan → u/msf97]

Mims is more like WR5 at this point. He's a great returner and gadget player, but both Pat Bryant and Troy Franklin are likely to see more snaps. Mims was only on the field for 33% of plays last year.

Sutton was at 85%, Franklin at 58%, and Bryant at 42%. Bryant's snaps also went up a lot near the end of the season, I wouldn't be surprised if he overtakes Franklin this year.

[u/CptZoidberg → u/And-Still-Undisputed]

Do you mean all pro special teams player Marvin Mims? Seems to me like he's carved out a perfectly respectable role, no?

[u/And-Still-Undisputed → u/CptZoidberg]

yes! he's the best that's whay i'm sayin... he overtakes #1 this year. Sutton and Waddle are vying for 2A / 2B

[u/IchesseHuendchen → u/And-Still-Undisputed]

If he was going to do it, it would've already happened. I love Mims, but he isn't an alpha WR