Denver Broncos CB Pat Surtain is a first-team All-Pro
Jan 13, 2023, 10:33 AM | Updated: 10:34 am
George Paton’s first draft pick as Broncos general manager took just two seasons to become an All-Pro.
Friday, the Associated Press announced that Pat Surtain II was selected as a first-team All-Pro. He is the first Bronco to be a first-team All-Pro since 2016, when Von Miller, Aqib Talib and Chris Harris Jr. all earned the honor.
That was also the Broncos’ last winning season.
The award comes on the heels of Surtain earning a first-team All-Pro nod as selected by the NFLPA through a player vote earlier this week. However, the AP’s award is considered the “official” All-Pro designation by the NFL.
Surtain became one of the NFL’s most dominant cover cornerbacks this season. By Week 17 in Kansas City, Patrick Mahomes — himself a first-team All-Pro QB — didn’t bother throwing in Surtain’s direction at all. A week later, Justin Herbert took just one shot at Surtain’s area of the field.
He allowed just three touchdowns this season — all in a two-game stretch in November. Per SportRadar.com, opposing QBs had an 82.6 passer rating when throwing in his direction.
The Alabama product could be poised to earn this honor for years to come. Surtain and fellow first-team All-Pro Sauce Gardner of the New York Jets are both 22 years of age. Gardner earned the honor in his rookie campaign.
Safety Justin Simmons also earned second-team All-Pro honors for the third time in the last four seasons. Simmons has more second-team All-Pro nods than Pro Bowl selections (1), even though fewer players are first- or second-team All-Pros.
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