ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — For cornerback Pat Surtain II, Sept. 4 might be a day that's hard to beat.
On Wednesday morning, the two-time Pro Bowler officially signed a four-year contract extension and was named a captain for the 2024 season.
And while Surtain may have been "relieved" to have his deal "signed, sealed [and] delivered," — as he said in a video posted by the Broncos — the significance of the day was not lost on him.
"Just to be able to sign and seal that deal, it's honestly a blessing," Surtain said Wednesday. "And being a captain for the team means a lot. It shows how much this organization believes in me [and] this team believes in me and like I said, I don't take that for granted. I'm going to give it everything I got on that field this year, for sure."
Throughout his first three seasons in Denver, Surtain has done just that. The ninth-overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft has started 49 of 50 games in which he has appeared and has quickly developed a reputation as one of the top cornerbacks in the league.
After recording four interceptions and 14 passes defensed during his rookie season, he has gone on to add another three interceptions and 22 passes defensed in the past two years. And in 2023, he became the first Bronco since at least 1999 to tally double-digit passes defensed in each of his first three seasons.
This on-field performance has earned him several accolades, including an Associated Press first-team All-Pro honor in 2022 and a pair of NFLPA first-team All-Pro selections.
And while Surtain's skill set has stood out to individuals around the league, it has also made quite the impression on those that get to witness his hard work on a daily basis.
Head Coach Sean Payton, who is entering his 17th season as an NFL head coach, noted that players with Surtain's level of talent don't come around often.
"They're just hard to find," Payton said of cornerbacks playing at a high level. "It's probably one of the harder positions to play in our league."
Several veteran players have also taken note, including seventh-year Pro Bowl wide receiver Courtland Sutton.
"It was inevitable," Sutton said of Surtain's contract extension. "Pat is the best corner in the NFL. I don't care what anybody says, I don't care about anybody's lists. ... I don't care about none of that. I watch Pat work every single day. I watch Pat go to work and go to battle on Sundays and whatever day we're playing, and he's proven it week-in and week-out. He's proven that he's the best at what he does. I'm just happy for him to be able to have that next step in his career. Nothing's going to change about him. He's going to continue to be Pat Surtain."
Surtain echoed this sentiment, noting that he will continue to approach each practice and game with the same commitment to self-improvement that has led him to this very moment.
"I'm just willing to grow and willing to get better each and every year," Surtain said. "I know what I can work on, and I know what I can get better at. I'm very confident in my abilities, but I know that there's a high ceiling for me. I'm just looking forward to keep on getting better each and every year."
For PS2, there's no place like Denver to get the job done.
"Being part of this organization means a lot to me," Surtain said, "and playing here for a few more years, I'm honestly happy to be here for sure."
