CENTENNIAL, Colo. — Pat Surtain II has often played like the best cornerback in the NFL.
The Denver Broncos just proclaimed him as the best as the team and their All Pro defender agreed on a four-year, $96 million contract extension that makes Surtain the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history, sources confirmed to 9NEWS. Combined with the two years and $23.332 million Surtain was scheduled to make this year and next, his contract is really for six years -- through the 2029 season -- and $119.311 million.
"The contract is like a huge burden off my shoulders,'' Surtain said. "I'm honestly just very relieved from it, just to be able to sign and seal that deal is a blessing for sure.
Surtain's contract includes $77.5 million in guarantees, His $24 million annual average in "new money" pay out surpasses by 14 percent the previous NFL cornerback high of $21 million per year that Green Bay;'s Jaire Alexander received in May 2022.
"It means a lot, for sure,'' Surtain said about becoming the league's highest-paid defensive back. "But at the end of the day I just focus on doing the best I can do on the field. Be the best version of myself each and every day. I'll try to not let the pressure to get to me. I'll build off of it and just play the game that I play and love doing."
Surtain, 24, was raised to play cornerback by his father, Pat Surtain, who was a three-time Pro Bowler during his 11-year career. Surtain II was the Broncos' first-round draft pick, No. 9 overall, in 2021. He set a career-best with four interceptions as a rookie, including a 70-yard pick six against the Chargers' Justin Herbert.
Quarterbacks have since been wary of throwing in Surtain's direction as he'd had just three interceptions combined in the past two years. However, he has drawn raves from former cornerbacks and current receivers for his coverage technique.
Surtain was a first-team All Pro in 2022 and has made the Pro Bowl each of the past two seasons. The timing of the Broncos giving this contract extension to Surtain was mildly surprising as some may have called it a year early. He was in the fourth year of his five-year rookie contract that was to pay him $3.53 million this year and a fully guaranteed $19.8 million in 2025. Those numbers have now been adjusted upwards.
Then again, there was considerable acrimony this offseason between star players holding out with one year left on their contracts and their respective teams -- mostly resulting in teams caving and giving the players enormous, record-setting contracts.
Surtain's agent, Tory Dandy, also represented Cowboys' receiver CeeDee Lamb, who wound up with a stunning four-year, $136 million contract following a prolonged holdout.
In Surtain's case, he had built up so much goodwill and fine play with his employer, the Broncos made sure to head off the potential of contract conflict next year.
"We spent some time talking about it,'' said head coach Sean Payton. "I think both sides felt real good about the timing. And we went ahead and did it. It's securing a real young talented player that is at a position that's hard to find."
Surtain is the second player from GM Paton's 2021 draft class to receive a mega-million reworked contract this year. Third-round guard Quinn Meinerz received a four-year, $72 million deal.
Details of Surtain's contract first reported by Pro Football Talk and source confirmed to 9NEWS:
2024: $18,518 million ($15 million signing bonus; $2.463 million training camp bonus; $1.055 million salary). So call it a $15 million raise from the $3.53 million he was scheduled to receive this year.
2025: $22.17 million ($21 million option bonus; $1.17 million salary, all fully guaranteed). Surtain had been scheduled to make $19.802 million fully guaranteed in this year.
2026: $17.623 million ($10 million option bonus; $7.632 million salary, all guaranteed for injury but fully guaranteed on 5th day of 2025 league year). This is the first of three "early triggers" that strengthen partial guarantees.
2027: $17 million ($17 million salary guaranteed for injury but fully guaranteed on 5th day of 2026 league year.)
2028: $20 million ($19.49 million salary of which $2.179 million is guaranteed for injury. Of that $2.179 million injury guarantee, $1.179 million becomes fully guaranteed on 5th day of 2026 league year and the other $1 million becomes fully guaranteed on 5th day of 2027 league year. There is also $510,000 in per game roster bonuses, or $30,000 per game. That still leaves $17.83 million with no guarantees.
2029: $24 million ($23.49 million salary; $510,000 in per game roster bonus.
So it's really a six-year, $119.311 million contract. But he was already scheduled to make $23.332 million over the 2024 and 2025 seasons, so the new money comes out to $96 million over four years.
While the final year of the contract is what the industry would call "fluff" as it has zero guarantee and a higher number, in this case $24 million, than any previous year, making it not likely to be realized. But the early-trigger guarantee components make this a legitimate four-year, $75.311 million deal.
Not bad considering Surtain II was willing to play this year for $3.53 million.
