Summary

Patrick Surtain II (PS2) was selected in Round 1 (#9 Overall) of the 2021 NFL Draft out of the University of Alabama. Surtain starred in Nick Saban’s Tide defense, recording 24 passes defended and 4 interceptions in college while earning First-Team All-SEC honors (2020) and being named the SEC Defensive Player of the Year (2020). In the NFL, Surtain has quickly developed into one of the league’s premier shutdown corners. Through the 2024 season, he has produced 10+ career interceptions, 50+ passes defended, and consistently ranks among the NFL’s best in coverage efficiency while shadowing top receivers weekly. He earned First-Team All-Pro honors and won the NFL Defensive Player of the Year (2022), becoming the first defensive back to win the award since 2010. He has also earned multiple Pro Bowl selections and serves as the foundation of Denver’s defensive identity. Off the field, Surtain is widely regarded as a high-character, disciplined, and professional leader—calm demeanor, strong work habits, strong football IQ, and a team-first approach that aligns with captain-level leadership traits, likely as a result of his pedigree being the son of former Pro Bowl cornerback Patrick Surtain (PS1).

Strengths

• Alpha Game Wrecker: Can shadow, lock a side, or enable creative coverage rotations. Mirrors receivers with patience, balance, and strong technique and embraces top assignments.

• Built in a Lab: Prototypical build (4.85 Measurables score) allows him to match up with bigger WR1s. Strong jam timing with refined hand placement veers receivers off course early in stem.

• Elite Processor & Ball Skills: Processes combinations quickly and anticipates breaks and concepts. Plays the ball aggressively without panicking with strong timing at catch point.

• Footwork & Discipline: Rarely wastes movement and stays square and controlled. Enough acceleration to erase separation if initially challenged.

Weaknesses

• Aggression vs. Double Moves: When overly confident, can be tested by layered routes. This is admittedly a rare issue, but let’s face it - not many weaknesses in a defensive player of the year caliber cornerback.

• Fear Factor: Because he is so good and respected by opposing coordinators, teams tend to game plan away from him, limited chances of production on the ball.

• Slot Flexibility: Capable in nickel, but best value remains outside due to his frame and speed.

• Penalty Risk (I Guess?): Physical press style can occasionally draw flags if timing slips. Again, grasping at straws here, folks. He’s good.

Outlook

PS2 is an ideal cornerstone for any defensive structure, but especially for Denver’s approach, where elite corner play enables coverage disguise, pressure flexibility, and aggressive front structure. He can function as a true CB1, traveling with opponent WR1s or locking down one side while freeing the defense to tilt coverage elsewhere. His ability to win without constant safety help lets coordinators call more complex coverage rotations and pressure packages, effectively expanding the playbook. Looking ahead, Surtain continues to projects as a long-term All-Pro cornerstone with sustained elite performance. His game is built on technique, intelligence, and discipline (all traits that age well), suggesting he can remain a top-tier corner well into the prime years of his career. Denver can build its secondary identity around him for the foreseeable future, and his combination of production, professionalism, and leadership makes him a franchise defensive centerpiece capable of anchoring championship-level defenses and landing him as a first-ballot Hall of Famer when the time comes.