In a conference call with reporters last month, former cornerback Richard Sherman’s eyes widened, and the excitement in his voice rose when the topic of the Broncos’ Pat Surtain II came up.
Sherman, a Super Bowl champion and three-time All-Pro, called Surtain’s technique “textbook.”
“From a technical standpoint, he’s one of the best in the last decade or two, up there with (former New York Jets cornerback) Darrelle Revis in terms of his poise,” Sherman said. “It always looks like he’s in control (and) anticipating everything.”
For Sherman, Surtain and New York Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner, who will share the field Sunday at Empower Field at Mile High, represent the next generation of great cornerbacks. Both have established themselves as among the best at the position just a year or two removed from college — and they aren’t alone either.
Across the NFL, young corners are emerging as plug-and-play players capable of making an immediate impact.
“It’s cool to see kids coming out of college and strapping,” Sherman said. “It speaks to the evolution of the position that guys can come in and not panic.”
When talking about the best cornerbacks in the NFL, no matter age or experience, Surtain and Gardner are two names that pop up. Surtain, a ninth overall pick in 2021, totaled a combined 24 passes defended in the past two seasons and was named a Pro Bowler and Associated Press First-Team All-Pro in 2022.
Gardner, who is in his second year after getting drafted fourth overall in 2022, was one of the best overall defensive players last season. The Cincinnati product was the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year after totaling 75 tackles and 20 passes defended, while quarterbacks had a 62.7 passer rating when targeting him.
“He has really good ball skills and all those traits that you look for that we feel like we kind of have with Pat,” Broncos head coach Sean Payton said. “Those longer players get their hands on balls, and I think he transitions well for a corner.”
But the elite cornerback play doesn’t stop in Denver and New York.
Dallas cornerback Trevon Diggs, who is out for the season with a torn ACL, has 18 interceptions since entering the league in 2020. In Seattle, the Seahawks have a talented young cornerback tandem in second-year Tariq Woolen, 24, and 23-year-old rookie Devon Witherspoon, who was drafted fifth overall with the pick Denver sent to Seattle for quarterback Russell Wilson.
Woolen, a fifth-round selection in 2022, had a Pro Bowl rookie year after he tied for first in the NFL in interceptions with six.
Witherspoon, one of four cornerbacks drafted in the first round, is off to an impressive start as well. In the win over the New York Giants on Monday night, he had two sacks and a pick-six.
Although Surtain is often compared to Gardner, he doesn’t have a rivalry with the Jets’ star cornerback. Surtain admires Gardner and other top cornerbacks in the league and even studies their game to improve.
“When you see a bunch of young guys playing at an elite level in one of the hardest positions in the game, it means a lot,” Surtain said. “I feel like (we are) going to keep setting the standard moving forward. (I) expect a lot of young guys to make an immediate impact at this position.”
Sherman believes college teams relying heavily on the passing game has set younger corners up for success. “When you get into the league, it’s almost like you are getting a break (because) they run it a little bit more in the (NFL),” he said.
Broncos defensive backs coach Christian Parker thinks the skill development for defensive backs is at a high level. Parker said most colleges incorporate a spread offense, leading to defensive backs being more versatile and playing different spots in the secondary.
A third-year coach in Denver, Parker credited youth and high school 7-on-7 leagues, which emphasize passing, receiving and pass defense skills, for helping players get ahead of the curve.
“7-on-7 is a great way to work on your technique since it’s all passing,” Surtain said. “Sometimes you can’t be as physical, so technique is a major key.”
Surtain is only in his third season, but former Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey believes the Alabama product is on track to have a Hall of Fame career. Bailey, a proud wearer of a gold jacket, doesn’t shy away from placing lofty expectations on Surtain because he is confident the star cornerback can be one of the “all-time greats” in Denver.
“When you see it, you see it,” Bailey said. “The kid can play, man.”
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