Denver Broncos rookies: Starter or sideline in 2021 season?

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Jun 1, 2021; Englewood, Colorado, USA;Denver Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain II (2) during organized team activities at the UCHealth Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Pat Surtain II, CB

The Denver Broncos’ selection of Pat Surtain II was pretty surprising, all things considered.

The Broncos went out and spent some of their primary assets in free agency on veterans Ronald Darby and Kyle Fuller. After those moves, GM George Paton even told the media that he didn’t have to take a cornerback in that number nine spot overall in the first round.

Apparently, when he said he didn’t have to go with a cornerback, too many of us (myself included) took that to mean he for sure wouldn’t.

Paton added Pat Surtain II, arguably the top defensive player overall in the 2021 NFL Draft class, to an already loaded secondary. So what does that mean for Surtain’s early playing time? Is he a starter or is he going to ride the pine?

There is just simply no way the Denver Broncos don’t find a way to get this guy on the field.

Will he be in the “starting lineup”? It’s possible if not probable that he will not be. The Broncos signed Darby and Fuller and also still have Bryce Callahan, who may have been their best defensive player in general last year until his foot injury flared up.

Still, there will be an immediate role for Surtain in the defense. Even if he is not running out of the tunnel with the starters, he’s playing starter snaps.

Verdict: Starter

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