Before Denver Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain was rewarded for his elite play with the richest deal for a defensive back in NFL history earlier this week, he was lauded by Hall of Fame cornerback and Broncos legend Champ Bailey.
“This kid is the best in the game right now,” Bailey said during a recent interview with Zach Gelb of Infinity Sports Network. “When he came out of college, I said he has Pro Football Hall of Fame potential. … There is no doubt in my mind he will continue to excel.”
The Broncos certainly think highly of Surtain as well. On Wednesday, Surtain was given a history-making, four-year, $96 million contract extension that ties him to the team through 2029.
Champ Bailey says Patrick Surtain II is the best corner in the game and @champbailey fully expects @PatSurtainll to be a first ballot @ProFootballHOF player.@InfSportsNet pic.twitter.com/QddvuTcT2h
— Zach Gelb (@ZachGelb) August 29, 2024
Bailey is no stranger to being a star cornerback. During his 15-year career, Bailey was always on the opponent’s best receiver, as Surtain is today.
Denver solidified its defensive cornerstone for the foreseeable future and hopes that Surtain can continue to play at the elite level he is performing at. He is already a two-time Pro Bowler and a one-time first-team All-Pro, three years into his career.
Surtain will be one of the faces of a youth movement in Denver, hopefully to become one of the foundational pieces in what fans hope to be a team built for many years of success down the road.
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