Denver Broncos: Patrick Surtain II simply too good to ignore

The talk leading up to the Denver Broncos‘ pick was that the team might possibly trade for Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers. However, the team decided to go with a corner with the ninth selection in the 2021 NFL Draft. This is somewhat of a surprise pick as the team addressed the cornerback position in free agency with the signing of Kyle Fuller.

However, the Denver Broncos likely found Patrick Surtain II too much of a value pick at this point in the draft as he was the top corner and top defensive player left on the board. This past season, Surtain was named the SEC Defensive Player of the Year and he was a true shutdown corner as he held the receiver he was covering to under 25 yards receiving in 10 of the 13 games he played in. He also has been a three-year starter for the Crimson Tide, so he was far from a one-year wonder.

As a prospect, Patrick Surtain II is a complete player as he plays with great technique in coverage and excels in press coverage. He shows a high football IQ in coverage as well and does a great job diagnosing what the offense is doing. He is a physical corner as well and is not afraid to come up and support the run.

The only real issue with him is he is not the quickest corner in and out of his breaks, but that deficiency could be minimized in Denver’s defense. It is also a bit of a concern that he only has picked off four passes during his college career, however, this lack of production was partly due to the fact teams rarely threw against him.

While this pick might not have addressed Denver’s biggest draft need, it was a solid selection for the team. This is due to the fact that Surtain will likely become a long-time starter for the Denver Broncos and he undoubtedly has Pro Bowl upside.