Expectations and projections for Patrick Surtain II with the Broncos in 2021

The Denver Broncos didn’t need a cornerback in the 2021 NFL Draft. They certainly didn’t need one in the first round.

But when the best defensive player in the draft, according to their board, fell right into their lap at pick No. 9, George Paton couldn’t pass up adding a star cornerback to an already stacked room.

Since Patrick Surtain II is joining a room with three veteran starters, should expectations for him be lowered for his rookie season? Not necessarily. Here’s why.

Projections for 2021: Play in all 17 games, play in 75 percent of the defensive snaps; 2 interceptions; 7 passes defended; 50 tackles; All-Rookie Team

Surtain’s rookie season, and quite frankly career, may be boring. But in the best possible way.

“When you watch Patrick, you can get bored because they never throw to him,” Paton said about his first-round pick. “He only had 48 targets [last] year. They only completed 21 passes. You love the movement. For a guy this big, he is always in phase. He’s hard to throw at for quarterbacks.”

The 6-foot-2, 208-pound corner will see more action his rookie year than he ever saw before at Alabama. That is until NFL quarterbacks realize he’s the truth. Then his career could become extra boring. At least that’s the hope.

While initially Surtain II could be Denver’s fourth cornerback, behind Kyle Fuller, Bryce Callahan and Ronald Darby, he will play significantly more than a typical fourth corner.

“As you guys know, we are playing a lot of five defensive backs. A good bit of the time, we play five or more—75 percent to 85 percent of the time,” Vic Fangio said, explaining what Surtain’s role will be as a rookie in a crowded cornerback room. “We’ll have plenty of opportunity to get him in there.”

The Broncos will make plenty of opportunities to get him in the game. Expect to see even more nickel packages—i.e. five defensive backs—and even more dime packages—six defensive backs—than Fangio has displayed in the past. The Broncos’ strength on defensive is their pass rush and secondary. Fangio will play into that in 2021.

Additionally, it would be remiss to not point out Darby and Callahan’s injury history. Darby has played a full season just once in his career. Callahan has never played a full season in the NFL.

If Callahan, Denver’s stud slot corner, were to miss time, Fangio believes Surtain II would have success on the inside.

“What I like about him is that he has shown that he is very capable both in man and zone. I think that he has good eyes, meaning that he sees more than just the man he’s lined up on,” Fangio said, explaining the traits of Denver’s first-round pick. “[He’s] a good tackler in the running game and has good ball skills.  I think he has the versatility even though we haven’t seen in it on tape. Everything we know about him and what he’s shown, I think that there’s a chance that he can play inside if we need him to as a fifth or sixth DB.”

Finally, Surtain II will naturally climb the depth chart as his rookie season progresses. Make no mistake, Surtain II will make mistakes as a rookie. Even though he’s one of the most pro-ready players from the 2021 draft, he will still struggle at times.

However, he’s a smart player with the physical tools to transition quickly to the next level. By the end of the year he should be a staple in Denver’s defense, if not a starter. It wouldn’t be a shock to see this rise happen before the season even begins, especially after impressing during OTAs and mandatory minicamp.

Despite already having three experienced cornerbacks on the roster, Patrick Surtain II will play a significant role in Fangio’s defense his rookie season. Much like a fine wine, he’ll get better as the season progresses.