Pat Surtain II dressed the part.
On Monday night at Surtain’s “Football2Fashion” fundraiser, the Broncos starting cornerback was dressed in Bottega pants and boots with a red cardigan sweater as if he was about to walk down a runway of his own fashion show.
Surtain’s fundraiser was meant to express his love for fashion while raising money for his foundation’s outreach programs.
“It came to mind based on my style and everyone coming together to raise money (for) the inner city youth to make sure they have the resources to fulfill their dreams,” Surtain told a small scrum of reporters at Social Capitol Events in Arvada.
Before the start of the festivities, Surtain addressed his contract situation — a topic that will follow him throughout the 2024 campaign now that he is eligible for an extension.
In April, the Broncos exercised Surtain’s fifth-year option, keeping him under contract through 2025. Surtain, an unrestricted free agent in 2026, is likely to become one of the highest-paid cornerbacks in NFL history.
Pro Football Focus and Over the Cap analyst Brad Spielberger told The Denver Post that Surtain could command an annual salary between $24.5 million and $27 million.
Surtain said he is mindful of his contract situation, but more focused on taking care of business on the field.
“That time will come,” Surtain said. “I’m focused on being the best player I can be.”
Surtain is entering his fourth season with the Broncos and has yet to taste the feeling of competing in the postseason or finishing with a winning record. The Broncos got younger after releasing safety Justin Simmons and quarterback Russell Wilson, but Surtain remains confident in Sean Payton’s vision for the organization.
“(There’s) a lot of new faces coming in the building, but the standard has never changed,” Surtain said. “The main focus is getting to that next step, which is the playoffs and even better.”
As Denver marches toward the regular season, one of the biggest question marks surrounding the team and the outlook of the defense is who will start on the opposite side of Surtain.
Second-year player Riley Moss, former starter Damarri Mathis, newly-signed veteran Levi Wallace, and rookie Kris Abrams-Draine are among the cornerbacks competing for the role, which belonged to Fabian Moreau for the majority of last season.
“They all (have been) making plays during OTAs and are capable of playing on Sundays,” Surtain said. “I’m looking forward to seeing (how it plays out).”
Surtain’s fundraiser featured a silent auction and a fashion show, allowing local designers to showcase their work. The event brought together current and former teammates, including Mathis, Ja’Quan McMillian, P.J. Locke and Simmons.
For Surtain, fashion allows him to explore his creativity, putting together outfits and formulating a style that’s unique to him.
“Whether it’s being innovative or whatever first comes to mind, it’s with my mind trying to be creative and trying new stuff on,” Surtain said. “I started going to fashion shows and gaining new details about how fashion really works.”
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