Going into 2024, cornerback Pat Surtain is already the face of the Denver Broncos defense, and one of the best cover men in the game after being drafted ninth overall in the 2021 NFL draft.
This fact has just been confirmed by players across the NFL, as Surtain was named the 52nd-best player in the league prior to the start of the 2024 season. In 2023, Surtain came in at No. 49 on the player-based rankings.
Last fall, Surtain had a Pro Bowl-caliber season after having another Pro Bowl campaign in 2022. In 2023, Surtain started all 17 games, defending 12 passes and corralling one interception, which came against now-Broncos quarterback Zach Wilson.
Denver’s defense looks very different than it did in 2023, with the departure of several key players, such as Josey Jewell (Carolina), Justin Simmons (cap casualty) and Jonathan Harris (Miami).
Although Surtain is the cornerstone of the Denver defense, Simmons came in at No. 57, even as one of the top remaining free agents on the market to date.
The biggest challenge for this version of defensive coordinator Vance Joseph’s unit will be finding an adequate cover corner to play opposite Surtain against opponent’s No. 2 receivers in 2024.
