Denver Broncos star cornerback Patrick Surtain II is setting records before the NFL season even begins.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Surtain and the Broncos have agreed to a massive 4-year, $96 million contract extension. At $24 million per year, that makes him the highest-paid defensive back in NFL history. Surtain will also receive $77.5 million in guaranteed money.
Surtain, 24, has been a Bronco his entire career. Drafted ninth overall in 2021 out of Alabama, he’s made the Pro Bowl the last two seasons, and in 2022 was a first-team All-Pro.
The previous record-holder for highest paid cornerback was Jaire Alexander of the Green Bay Packers, who makes $21 million a year AAV. As ESPN’s Adam Schefter noted, Surtain’s big payday resets the market at his position.
The Patrick Surtain deal in Denver dramatically resets the cornerback market. The highest-paid CBs in the NFL on a per-year basis are now:
🏈Patrick Surtain: $24M⁰🏈Jaire Alexander: $21M⁰🏈AJ Terrell: $20.25M⁰🏈Denzel Ward: $20.1M⁰🏈Jalen Ramsey: $20M https://t.co/teVLWecTmZ
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 4, 2024
Other teams may have to worry about their defensive backs in the future, but not the Broncos, who get to kick off their season against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday with Surtain locked down for years to come.
