The Denver Broncos’ Patrick Surtain II was named the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2024, an honor that could’ve made contract negotiations trickier had he earned it a year earlier. Still, Surtain chose to lock in a deal early—and that decision may have come at a cost.
ESPN’s Dan Graziano recently labeled Surtain’s four-year, $96 million extension signed in September as the most “team-friendly” cornerback contract in the league.
That label might not hold for long, though.
“Maybe he should have waited until after the season and let the contracts of Jaycee Horn and Derek Stingley Jr. set the market,” Graziano wrote. “It’s hard to argue that those players should be paid more than a reigning Defensive Player of the Year.”
Although Surtain’s contract includes $11 million more in injury guarantees than Horn’s, Horn has dealt with injuries throughout his career, while Surtain has remained healthy. Still, Horn will earn $64.4 million over the first three years of his deal compared to Surtain’s $58.3 million.
Surtain, drafted just one spot behind Horn in 2021, has played in 66 games versus Horn’s 37. His durability and elite play have made him one of the league’s top cornerbacks.
The Broncos structured Surtain’s deal with a $15 million signing bonus, fully guaranteed money through 2025, and injury guarantees that converted to full guarantees by 2026. While the average annual value sits at $19.44 million, which ranks fourth among corners, the total value ranks sixth—significantly less than what comparably talented players have recently secured.
Graziano suggests Denver may eventually have to revisit the deal if Surtain continues to perform at an elite level and the market surpasses his current pay.
Coming off a Pro Bowl season in 2023 that he personally viewed as underwhelming, Surtain entered 2024 determined to raise his game—and he delivered.
“I’ve got a lot to prove,” Surtain said last offseason. “It was a good year, but I wasn’t at my best. I know what I’m capable of.”
If he continues to play at an elite level, the Broncos may need to rework his contract sooner rather than later to keep their star cornerback happy—and fairly compensated.