Patrick Surtain II has done something remarkable in just four NFL seasons. The Denver Broncos cornerback has established himself as one of the top defensive players in the league, earning three Pro Bowl selections, two first-team All-Pro honors, and following a career-best 2024 season, he claimed the Defensive Player of the Year honor as well.
Despite capturing the DPOY award along with Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro recognition, Surtain found himself ranked third among cornerbacks in PFSN’s list of the Top 100 NFL Players in 2025. The question becomes whether that ranking truly reflects his impact on the field.
Is Patrick Surtain II’s Rank as Third-Best CB in NFL Justified?
The two corners ranked ahead of Surtain are the Baltimore Ravens’ Marlon Humphrey and the Houston Texans’ Derek Stingley Jr., both of whom earned Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors. While Surtain took home the DPOY honor, Humphrey and Stingley both defended more passes and scored more interceptions than the Broncos’ corner.
Explaining why Surtain ranked behind the two, PFSN’s Stats and Insights team wrote, “Surtain was great in 2024 when it came to the splash plays, but when you look at his successes against the other top two cornerbacks on our list, his play a year ago didn’t quite reach those standards in terms of limiting plays and receptions in his coverage.
“Both CBs above Surtain on the PFSN NFL Top 100 had more splash plays (INT+PBU) while also limiting receivers to fewer yards and fewer receptions (and also far less big plays in his coverage).”
Both Stingley and Humphrey also recorded more tackles than Surtain, while Humphrey also recorded 0.5 sacks, making the rankings far less surprising. However, that doesn’t mean his impact on the Broncos’ defense was any less than the other two had for their respective teams. In fact, it perhaps was more.
How Did Surtain Transform Denver’s Defense in 2024?
With Surtain leading the defense and rookie quarterback Bo Nix exceeding expectations in year one, the Broncos defied preseason expectations and finished 10-7 in the regular season. They made their first playoff appearance since 2015, snapping the league’s second-longest active postseason drought.
Surtain was crucial in ending that drought, and when he was absent, the Broncos were far less aggressive in defense, showing his importance to the unit. While he was targeted just 55 times, ranking 71st among corners.
His presence allowed the unit, which ranked No. 1 in the Defense+ metric, to be aggressive and helped pass rushers combine for a record 63 sacks.
Patrick Surtain’s 2024 DPOY tape is unreal 📼pic.twitter.com/LBh6wFPXY6
— Football’s Greatest Moments (@FBGreatMoments) July 16, 2025
He allowed a 72.7% completion rate, but he kept the damage minimal by surrendering only two touchdowns and just 2.98 yards per reception (12th) among all defenders.
“Surtain finished the year with 12 defensive stops and nine combined interceptions and pass breakups,” the PFSN team wrote. “His disciplined coverage and sound tackling helped anchor an elite Broncos defense that often relied on him to neutralize top receivers.
“Surtain is one of the most technically advanced and respected cornerbacks in the NFL. His ability to limit yards after the catch and prevent big plays, even when targeted, makes him a valuable asset in Denver’s defensive scheme. Surtain is expected to maintain his status as a lockdown corner for years to come.”
In a league built on flash and flair, Patrick Surtain II stands tall as a silent enforcer, proving that true dominance doesn’t need noise, just results.
