NFL execs pick no Broncos to win major awards, including Pat Surtain II

Denver Broncos superstar cornerback Pat Surtain II won NFL Defensive Player of the Year a season ago.

And he showed no signs of slowing down this year, after a dominant performance against the Titans in Week 1.

Surtain did not allow a single catch to a Tennessee player in his 34 coverage snaps. That was the eighth time in his career he’s accomplished that. He was targeted only once by Titans rookie QB Cam Ward, and Surtain broke that pass up.

It was classic PS2, locking down half the field.

However, NFL executives don’t anticipate Pat Surtain II going back-to-back as the Defensive Player of the Year. On Wednesday, ESPN released a survey of execs around the league, and they have that award going to Browns stud defensive end Myles Garrett.

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler does write that Surtain “pushed Garrett in the voting,” but the Cleveland pass-rusher still had the edge.

The good news? There’s a lot of football to be played, and if Surtain puts up outings like he did against Tennessee, it’ll be hard for voters not to hand him the hardware again.

No Broncos were picked first in any of the major categories (MVP, Coach of the Year, Rookie of the Years, etc.), but a couple got some love.

When its comes to “Breakout Player,” Denver QB Bo Nix and CB Riley Moss were both in the “also receiving votes category.” NFL execs predicted 49ers WR Ricky Pearsall would take it.

And for Offensive Rookie of the Year, Broncos RB RJ Harvey received votes. However, they have the honor going to Omarion Hampton of the Chargers.

Elsewhere, Sean Payton didn’t receive any votes for Coach of the Year, which was a bit of a surprise. If the Broncos can top the Chiefs and win the AFC West for the first time in nearly a decade, you have to think Payton will be in the mix.

To see the full predictions, including who else could challenge Pat Surtain II for Defensive Player of the Year, click here.

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