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Broncos Star Players Show up Despite Contract Drama

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Andy Hageman | Last updated Jul 24, 2025 12:30 PM ET

While contract disputes plague other NFL teams, the Denver Broncos' core stars arrived ready to work. The Broncos avoided the drama that has consumed other franchises this summer. No holdouts, no public complaints, just business as usual in Dove Valley.

Several high-profile players across the league have made headlines with their absence from training camp. Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons skipped practice Tuesday to voice frustrations about his contract situation. Washington Commanders receiver Terry McLaurin was notably absent from his team's camp opening.

But Denver tells a different story. Courtland Sutton, Nik Bonitto, and Zach Allen all participated in the Broncos' first training camp practice despite ongoing contract negotiations. Even with Sutton taking limited reps, all three extension hopefuls showed their commitment to the team.

Head coach Sean Payton remained characteristically tight-lipped about contract discussions. "You're going to ask me about a few contracts, they're all being worked on," Payton said. "Something we really would never discuss with you … so yeah, there's been good communication, and I'm just going to leave it that."

Bonitto recently revealed that "talks are happening right now" between his agent and general manager George Paton, though he prefers to stay focused on winning. The 26-year-old linebacker finished third in the NFL with 13.5 sacks last season, making him a prime candidate for a lucrative extension.

Allen, coming off a second-team All-Pro season, and Sutton, who posted over 1,000 receiving yards, represent the Broncos' most pressing contract priorities. Sutton is reportedly seeking compensation in the $20 million per year range, standard for elite receivers in today's market.

The drama-free opening stands in stark contrast to the chaos elsewhere in the league. Payton noted this was "one of the cleaner report dates that I can recall," with nearly every player present and healthy for the first practice session.