Re-drafting the Denver Broncos last 10 first-round picks
Denver Broncos 2021 re-draft pick: Pat Surtain II, CB, Alabama
Original pick (9th overall): Pat Surtain II, CB, Alabama
Sometimes, you just get it right.
The Denver Broncos had every opportunity and reason to go with a quarterback last year in the 9th overall slot.
There was pressure from fans. There was pressure from the media.
There was pressure all around rookie GM George Paton, but he didn’t cave. He stuck to his board, took the best player on it, and he’s now reaping the benefits in 2022 with Russell Wilson as his quarterback and one of the best young stars in the game in Surtain at a premier position.
Watching Surtain at Alabama was not always a great deal of fun.
Teams didn’t throw his direction often and when they did, Surtain made sure that nothing ever really happened.
He became so good that he was boring pundits around the country leading up to the 2021 NFL Draft.
The Carolina Panthers even took Jaycee Horn over Surtain, a decision that could comeback to bite them down the road.
Watching players like Sauce Gardner go fourth overall have to make the Denver Broncos feel extremely fortunate that Surtain lasted as long as he did in 2021.
Elite cornerback prospects simply don’t fall that far in the NFL Draft.
Surtain fell into the Broncos’ laps last year and they are lucky he did.