Denver Broncos: Patrick Surtain II already setting a high bar

Patrick Surtain II has only played one preseason game with the Denver Broncos but the rookie corner is already showing signs he can be great. 

Whenever the Denver Broncos used the ninth overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft on Alabama cornerback Patrick Surtain II, there were two general reactions. The first was a bit of shock and the second was ire that the franchise didn’t take one of Justin Fields or Mac Jones, two widely praised quarterback prospects to help the organization secure their future.

Despite the largely negative reaction, though, none of that was based upon the type of prospect and player Surtain was coming into the NFL. Many had him circled as the best cornerback in the draft, even though he went one pick after Jaycee Horn came off the board. Thus, the Broncos were obviously getting a good player.

And Surtain wasted little time in the preseason showing that.

In Denver’s preseason opener against the Vikings, Surtain didn’t play a ton but saw the field long enough to make a big impact. He finished as PFF’s highest-graded rookie in the NFL from the first week of the preseason, which isn’t hard to figure out considering that he was targeted only twice, one time taking an interception to the house and then breaking up the other attempt.

He was as good as advertised and, though it’s just the preseason, that sets a high bar for the rookie. But it’s clearly one he’s also capable of living up to, which could make the Broncos quite scary in the AFC this year.

The Denver Broncos adding Patrick Surtain II could create an elite defense for 2021.

One of the reasons quarterback was such a concerning area for the Broncos as they came into the draft was that the rest of the roster is primed to win now. Jerry Jeudy, rookie Javonte Williams, Courtland Sutton, Noah Fant, K.J. Hamler and a sneaky-great offensive line have them set up on that side of the ball. And even before Surtain’s arrival, the defense had Von Miller and Bradley Chubb finally on the field together along with studs like Kyle Fuller, Justin Simmons and Shelby Harris.

Surtain only further adds to that mix. It speaks to the immense quality of the Denver defense that we’re looking at a rookie who would start for roughly 90-95 percent of the other teams in the league and there’s a viable case he won’t for the Broncos. Then again, if he keeps up what he did in his preseason debut, it’s going to be hard to keep Surtain off the field.

With all that said, the quality of the defense — and the offense too — isn’t going to matter if the quarterback position isn’t settled. Drew Lock and Teddy Bridgewater have been battling and the former seemed to get a leg up in the preseason opener. But he needs to do that for 17 games in the regular season for fans to fully have faith and to maximize the talent on the roster.

And that makes the notion of taking a quarterback at No. 9 in the draft still sound enticing. Then again, when you see what Surtain is doing already, it’s hard to argue that they made a bad choice.