Broncos CB gets a massive vote of confidence from NFL evaluators
Pat Surtain II of the Denver Broncos is the best cornerback in football heading into 2025.
That's perhaps a debatable fact — because Derek Stingley Jr., Denzel Ward and Sauce Gardner exist and will make a push for that title this season — but those who know the NFL better than anyone else — execs, coaches and scouts — certainly think it's true.
Not only do they think it's true, but they think so by a wide margin.
ESPN released a ranking of the best cornerbacks in the NFL on Thursday and Surtain was nearly undisputed. He was also ranked first in the NFL in the same exercise heading into 2024, but at that time he got just over 50% of the first-place votes.
Now? Nearly 90% of those asked believe that Surtain is "the guy".
"Complete package — size, speed, good tackler, good ball skills, smart and instinctive," an AFC executive told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.
Surtain was selected No. 9 overall in the 2021 NFL Draft by the Broncos out of Alabama, and he quickly proved that he belonged in the league that his father once played in.
He notched four interceptions as a rookie and made his first All-Pro team in Year 2. Last season, he was the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year after totaling 45 tackles (34 solo), 11 passes defended, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and four interceptions (one taken back for a touchdown).
Surtain has the type of playmaking skill that a defense can hang its hat on, which is why so many in the NFL believe he'll once again be the top at his position in 2025.
"You bring pressure as a defense and he can handle it all," a NFL coordinator said. "Technician. Doesn't get bored doing it the right way. Extremely patient and big. Can affect a lot of things with technique and speed and is always in control."
Surtain allowed the fewest passing yards against in the league (306) and second-best passer rating when targeted (59.1) in 2024.
He gave up just two touchdowns all season.
Related articles
-1751517515-q80.webp "Browns Predicted to Add Super Bowl Winning QB to Replace Shedeur Sanders")
Browns Predicted to Add Super Bowl Winning QB to Replace Shedeur Sanders
Survey Says NFL Doesn’t Think Chris Jones Is Best DT Anymore
Robert Irwin Shows off His Dance Moves With Katy Perry Ahead of DWTS Season 34
$132 Million WR Was Trying to Get to Raiders This Offseason, Says Former PlayerThe Latest
Chiefs’ Travis Kelce is Taking a Break From an Important Part of His Life
Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs is taking a break in the coming weeks and months, and it's for a good reason. By now, everyone knows that Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs are in a relationship together. The two starting ...
Madison LeCroy Slams Mom Shamers Saying Her Pool Isn't Safe for Her Kids
Madison LeCroy is setting the record straight. The Southern Charm star clapped back after receiving criticism for not implementing enough safety measures around her pool area for her 12-year-old son Hudson and her baby girl Teddi, born July 3. "I totally get the concern," Madison wrote in a July 18 ...
Aaron Phypers' pal claims Denise Richards' black eye was result of a drunken fall, not abuse
A source close to Aaron Phypers is blaming Denise Richards’ black eye, which she claimed he caused, on her alleged “alcohol problem.” “This is consistent with the ongoing untruthfulness of Denise Richards, who is trying to hide her alcohol problem,” the insider claimed to the ...
“We Finally Found Our Forever”: Love Is Blind's AD Smith & Ollie Sutherland Spill on Dream Wedding Plans and the Costar Who Changed Everything
Amber Desiree "AD" Smith and Ollie Sutherland are in wedding planning mode! The Love is Blind stars — who are also expecting their first baby together — opened up about their upcoming nuptials to PEOPLE at the Netflix Summer Break event on Thursday, July 17. “We're planning everything every ...
-(3)-1752890816-q80.webp "Wild Fans Must Plan An Iowa Wild Road Trip This Year")
Wild Fans Must Plan An Iowa Wild Road Trip This Year
Last week, when the Iowa Wild released their schedule for the 2025-26 season, my buddies and I exchanged a series of quick emails, just as we do every summer around this time. “Okay, fellas, here are our weekends to choose from. Which one ...
