This story was originally published by Dead Spin
Patrick Surtain ll signed a four-year contract with the Denver Broncos on Wednesday.
The Broncos announced the signing but didn’t confirm the value of the deal which is reportedly $96 million, a figure that would make Surtain the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history.
The deal reportedly includes $77.5 million in guarantees.
Cornerback Jaire Alexander of the Green Bay Packers averages $21 million a year. The contract of Antoine Winfield Jr. of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a safety, carries an annual average value of $21.025 million. Falcons cornerback AJ Terrell signed a four-year deal in August that averages $20.25 million per season.
Former Broncos safety Justin Simmons said last season Surtain had become the “best player” on the Broncos’ roster and general manager George Paton went out of his way to underscore Surtain’s importance to the organization.
“We’re all big fans of Pat,” Paton said in January. “We want Pat here for a long time.”
Surtain, 24, was the No. 9 overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft and signed a four-year, $20.9 million contract. The team picked up his fifth-year option of $19.8 million earlier this year.
He is a two-time Pro Bowl selection and was named a first-team All-Pro in 2022.
In three NFL seasons, Surtain has played in 50 games (49 starts) and has 187 tackles, seven interceptions, a touchdown and 36 passes defensed.
–Field Level Media
