The NFL is all about scoring points and slingin’ the ball around the yard, these days, so teams need all the cornerbacks -good cornerbacks, at that- they can get.
Fortunately, the Denver Broncos have what already appears to be a perennial Pro Bowler in Pat Surtain II, who just made his second-straight Pro Bowl in his first three seasons. The league announced the decision on Wednesday evening and Surtain joins defensive teammate, Justin Simmons, as the two Broncos on the initial 2024 roster.
The former Alabama star has been as good as advertised ever since Denver drafted him with the ninth overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. He’s been a lockdown corner ever since he stepped on the field and while his interception totals have declined each year, it’s simply because teams don’t throw his way often. Per Pro Football Focus, Surtain averages 7.3 snaps per target, which is 26th out of 64 qualifying corners in 2023.
Regardless, the Broncos have a star at one of the most important positions in the game and that in itself is a big win for both the present and the future.
Surtain maxes out rookie deal thanks to second Pro Bowl
Rookies have a chance to earn pay raises through the NFL’s Proven Performance Escalator program. First-rounders, like Surtain, can earn bumps via Pro Bowls, while second-rounders through seventh-rounders can earn pay raises through both Pro Bowl nods and by meeting playing time criteria.
If a rookie hits any of these marks in their first three years, then they qualify for the applicable raise. The raise factors into the Year 5 salary for first-rounders and Year 4 salary for 2nd-7th round picks.
As mentioned earlier, this is Surtain’s second Pro Bowl. Therefore, his fifth-year option will now equate to whatever the franchise tag is in 2025. Per Over The Cap, Surtain’s fifth-year option was projected at $16.803 million, already. But now, it’s projected to be $19.475 million after the second Pro Bowl nod. He’s “maxed out” his rookie deal, which is obviously great to see.
The Broncos are still trying to figure out how to get the franchise back on track, but they do have a few building blocks in place and Surtain is definitely one of them that can help the team return to its winning ways.
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