Denver Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II has been named AP Defensive Player of the Year.
Surtain won the award with ease, receiving 26 votes. Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson came in at second with 11 votes. Surtain is just the second CB in last 14 years to win the award, with Stephen Gilmore of the New England Patriots winning it in 2019. Surtain now joins linebacker Randy Gradishar as the only Bronco to be named DPOTY, when he won it back in 1978.
In 16 games played during the 2024 season, Surtain recorded 45 total tackles, four interceptions, 11 passes defensed, one forced fumble, and one touchdown. The Broncos signed Surtain to a four-year, $96 million contract extension with $77.5 million guaranteed just before the start of the season, making him the highest-paid defensive back in NFL history.
It’s safe to say that Denver’s investment in Surtain has already paid off. Still just 24-years-old, he has a ton of great football left in him. Other NFL career accolades Surtain can boast are being a two-time First-Team All-Pro, three-time Pro Bowler, and a member of the 2021 PFWA All-Rookie Team.
Throughout his four-year career, Surtain has amassed 232 total tackles, 11 interceptions, 47 passes defensed, two forced fumbles, and two touchdowns. During his collegiate days at Alabama, he won SEC Defensive Player of the Year, was named First-Team All-SEC IN 2020, and was the Defensive MVP of the 2021 Rose Bowl.
If Surtain can keep this kind of pace, we’ll be talking about him as a Pro Football Hall of Fame candidate down the road. He is one of the few lockdown CBs that the NFL has, consistently able to take away the opposing team’s top receiver in each game he plays. Just a few weeks ago, Surtain was named AFC Defensive Player of the Year by the NFL 101 Committee.
