WATCH: Some of the NFL’s top receivers debate about how to get past Pat Surtain II

Denver Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain II is a nightmare for opposing teams to face off against, and some of the league's top receivers recently debated about how to beat him

BY TRENT FINNEGAN

Jul 11, 2025, 11:53 AM Updated: 12:03 pm

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Pat Surtain II keeps opposing quarterbacks, receivers and offensive coordinators up at night all throughout the season. As soon as the Denver Broncos pop up on the schedule against any opposing team, the other side has to worry about how to combat the best cornerback this league has seen in years, as he essentially shuts down half the field any time he’s out there.

Outside of Surtain, the rest of the secondary is solid as well, as they were just ranked as the third-best unit in the NFL.

Surtain captured the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year Award in 2024 after he put together a phenomenal campaign, posting four interceptions (one pick six), 11 pass deflections and 45 tackles in 16 games. He constantly took on the toughest matchup in each game, and shut down the opposing team’s top receiver more times than not.

100-YARD PICK SIX FOR PAT SURTAIN II 💯

📺 FOX pic.twitter.com/8nnNccBMBI

— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) October 6, 2024

Recently, some of the most talented receivers in the NFL were holding a workout and were debating about the best way to go about getting past the league’s top corner at the line of scrimmage. Top Broncos receiver Courtland Sutton was there, NFL legend Chad Ochocinco was there, arguably the league’s top receiver in Ja’Marr Chase was there and former Bronco Jerry Jeudy was there, amongst others.

WARNING: The following video contains explicit language.

Trending: Chad Ochocinco talks about how to beat Pat Surtain with Ja'Marr Chase, Jerry Jeudy, and more! 🤯

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— The House Call Sports (@TheHouseCallPod) July 10, 2025

For anyone who questions Surtain’s greatness or thinks that Sauce Gardner is a better corner, just look at the mental troubles the best receivers in the game are going through as they try to find good ways to beat him off the line. The laughing as they disagree along with Sutton smiling because he’s the only one in that group who truly knows how great Surtain is — since he practices with and against him every day in the season — shows how he causes so many headaches for opponents.

Remember, back in December, Surtain locked up Chase in the Week 17 classic between the Broncos and Bengals.

Two extremely related stats, both via @NextGenStats:

Patrick Surtain was over Ja'Marr Chase on 43 of 56 coverage snaps (77%). Chase was 3 for 27 on 6 targets when covered by Surtain

Tee Higgins against Riley Moss (25 snaps): 8 targets, 7 catches, 101 yards, 2 scores

— Benjamin Solak (@BenjaminSolak) December 29, 2024

The only other time those two matched up was in 2021 when they were both rookies, and Surtain won that battle as well, as he held chase to just one catch for three yards.

Jeudy torched the Broncos when he and the Cleveland Browns came to town in Week 13 last year for a battle on Monday Night Football that was one of the most action-packed contests of the season. He did his damage against the Broncos’ other defensive backs, however, as Surtain made sure to keep him in check when he got the opportunity.

Former pro and college teammates Jerry Jeudy and Patrick Surtain II lined up against each other on 34 of 57 routes.

Surtain allowed 2 receptions for 20 yards (3 targets) vs Jeudy while the rest of the team allowed 7 receptions for 215 yards (10 targets).

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— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) December 3, 2024

If only Ochocinco played against the young star, that would’ve been such an intriguing matchup to watch, given how shifty and crafty was Ochocinco was.

It’s no secret that Surtain is the best corner in the league, and the award he received last year proved that he’s the league’s top overall defensive player. This video is only further proof of his greatness.