Patrick Surtain
For a secondary that did not perform as expected in the Week 1 victory over the New York Giants, rookie cornerback Patrick Surtain II certainly made a splash in his first NFL start.
Starting in place of the injured Ronald Darby, Patrick Surtain recorded his first NFL interception on Sunday, and it was a beaut, at that. Surtain’s ability to sniff out the ball and ability to diagnose routes are just two aspects that will make Surtain a player of a special caliber in the NFL. In certain aspects, Surtain looked more like a veteran than he did a rookie.
For a draft pick that was heavily criticized, as most felt the Denver Broncos made a fatal error in passing on quarterback Justin Fields, Surtain has lived up to his hype so far. Many felt that the Broncos simply had more than they needed in the secondary room.
However, that noise was silenced quickly as Michael Ojemudia suffered an injury in the preseason, followed by Ronald Darby’s injury in Week 1. Suddenly, it was very apparent that having Patrick Surtain on the roster would become more key than ever.
As this secondary continues to play together and form an identity, look for Surtain to only improve with each week.