CLEVELAND (KDVR) — The Denver Broncos picked a cornerback from Alabama as the ninth pick in the first round.
Patrick Surtain II is a lockdown, press-man cornerback with great size and talent. In Alabama, Surtain often blanketed opponents’ best receivers, and could be the piece a young Broncos defense needs to stay strong for years to come.
“I will benefit a lot learning from those guys. They’re very experienced guys in the NFL. Picking their brains and learning from them, I think will be a benefit for me,” Surtain said.
Surtain started all 13 games the last two seasons for the Crimson Tide and as a shutdown corner helped Alabama win a national title in 2020, but also earned first-team Associated Press All-American and SEC Defensive Player of the Year honors.
Surtain’s father was a Pro Bowl cornerback and coached his son at American Heritage High School in South Florida.
“I’ve learned a lot from him. Of course, he was a 12-year pro. Gaining his insight and perspective on things has helped me a lot on the field. His game translates a lot into my game. Learning from him and having him teach me his techniques helped shape me up for the next level,” Surtain said.