Patrick Surtain II Has Value in Defensive Rookie of the Year Race
By Peter Dewey
Denver Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II was the second defensive player selected in the 2021 NFL Draft, and he’s already turning heads in training camp.
"It's rare. It's rare that you would ask a rookie to do that, No. 1, and it's rare that he's been able to handle it and do it," Broncos head coach Vic Fangio said. "Now, he's not perfected any of them yet, by any means, but we think he can, and it's not too big for him."
Surtain II was the second corner selected, after Jaycee Horn, and he actually has better odds on WynnBET to win the NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Year award at +1200 (Horn is at +1600).
Surtain II will get a chance to thrive under a defensive-minded coach like Fangio, and he joins a Broncos secondary that added a plethora of talent in Kyle Fuller and Ronald Darby this offseason.
"I'm just taking it day-by-day, learning every position just in case the team needs me in certain spots," Surtain said of camp thus far. "I'm just picking up on the playbook and translating it on to the field.
"I'm just out here controlling what I can control at the end of the day. I'm just looking forward to playing the season with my teammates-just building on that, playing my game and being the best player I can be."
The rookie is still tied for fifth in the odds to win Defensive Rookie of the Year, but since he’s been so impressive in camp, it’s hard not to want to buy-low on him before the season.
At the moment, Micah Parsons (+500), Jaelen Phillips (+650), Jamin Davis (+900) and Kwity Paye (+900) are ahead of Surtain II on the odds list.
Denver is currently projected to win 8.5 games this season, with the under being the slight favorite (-116) ahead to the over (-105). WynnBET also has the Broncos heavily favored to miss the postseason again under Fangio, as they are -210 to do so and just +155 to make it into the field.
Denver was 21st in the NFL in yards allowed last season and ranked as the eight-worst team against the run and 17th-worst against the pass. If Surtain II can come in and help Denver improve on those marks, he could make a push for Rookie of the Year honors.
Can Surtain II win Rookie of the Year? Make your pick now on WynnBET.