NEW ORLEANS — Game recognizes game.
That was certainly true at Radio Row in New Orleans on Wednesday, as a slew of current and former Pro Bowlers raved about cornerback Pat Surtain II's talent and 2024 performance.
"I've always been a fan of Pat," eight-time Pro Bowl cornerback Patrick Peterson told DenverBroncos.com. "We're both from kind of the same area — Florida boys. We're kind of different at that position, playing defensive back. But patience at the line of scrimmage, his ball skills. He's a technician. He's a guy that has the ability to take opposing team's number one [option] off the board. I saw a crazy stat that his passer rating against him was like 30-something. [It would be] a better passer rating if the quarterback would just throw it in the ground. He has a special talent, man. [He's] having a heck of a year and definitely worthy of being the Defensive Player of the Year."
Peterson, a three-time first-team All-Pro at cornerback, was just one of the players who brought up Surtain's lineage and his father's NFL experience as a reason for his success.
"He's just one of one," former running back Mark Ingram told DenverBroncos.com. " … He comes from a father who played at a high level, just like myself, so obviously he was grown from a young dude how to be a professional. His skill set, his mindset, he has all the attributes. He's big, he's fast, he's strong. He can play man to man at the line of scrimmage, can drop in zone. Great ball skills, interceptions. Just a true epitome of what you want in a lockdown, shutdown corner. That's a testament to who he is and who he's become over his life, because he's special. He's special. And he comes from specialty with his father. He's a legacy. We love the legacies, for sure."
Former Broncos Pro Bowl wide receiver Brandon Marshall has little doubt about Surtain's standing in the game, and he referenced their previous conversations as an indication of his lofty goals.
"Patrick Surtain, I mean, he's the best," Marshall told DenverBroncos.com. "We know that, right? He's the best. He was built for this moment, to be the best. When I sat down with him on my podcast, I asked him about his vision and his aspirations, like from a career standpoint when it was all said and done. And he talked about being up there with some of the greats. He is answering the bell. He's right in position."
Current NFL stars Cam Jordan and Cam Heyward also lauded Surtain, as the Saints' Jordan noted Surtain "locks down any and everybody."
Heyward, meanwhile, had a simple message: "Don't throw his way."
Surtain will soon look to add hardware to the high praise from his peers, as he is among the finalists for AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year. The winner will be announced Thursday night at NFL Honors.
