Patrick Surtain II of the Denver Broncos is the best cornerback in the NFL in the 2022 season, according to Pro Football Focus grades.
Denver defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero said the former Alabama All-American has been even better than that: He ought to be the NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
“I think he’s very deserving,” Evero said on Thursday. “I think sometimes stats are very misleading, and if you look at the numbers, they’re not going to tell you anything. But if you watch the film, I mean this guy is playing as good of football as anybody in the NFL at any position.”
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Surtain’s level of play has given opposing quarterbacks second thoughts about throwing the football his way. But on Sunday, the Broncos play the team that didn’t flinch when facing Surtain.
Las Vegas quarterback Derek Carr threw the football to the receiver covered by Surtain 14 times in the Raiders’ 32-23 victory on Oct. 2. No other quarterback has tested Surtain more than six times in any of the Broncos’ other eight games.
Carr’s favorite target is wide receiver Davante Adams, and he’s thrown to him 99 times in 2022. Only two NFL receivers have been targeted more often this season.
Adams is only one pass short of having twice as many targets as any other Las Vegas player in 2022. His 57 receptions are 26 more than any other Raiders player has, and his 784 receiving yards lead the team by 368. Adams is tied for the NFL lead with eight touchdown receptions.
“Without a doubt, I think it’s going to be a great matchup,” Broncos coach Nathaniel Hackett said of Adams versus Surtain in the passing game. “We saw it last time they went after it. Two guys that I have so much respect for and are playing at an unbelievably high level right now, so I think everybody is going to be excited to see those two guys go at it. I don’t think that they’re afraid to test him, and I don’t think Pat’s afraid to be tested, so I think it’ll be a fun matchup there.”
Carr threw to Adams 13 times in the first game against Denver, and the wide receiver caught nine passes for 101 yards, although Pro Football Focus said only four of those receptions for 46 yards came with Surtain in coverage.
“I’m looking forward to it,” Surtain said of the rematch. “Obviously, when I look at the first game, there’s some things I can correct going against him – just some minor adjustments. But I’m looking forward to it. Obviously, he’s a great player. It’s going to be a matchup. It’s going to be a showdown. …
“He’s very savvy. He’s smart with his technique. He knows how to read DBs whether they’re in press or they’re off, and he just knows how to get open. He knows how to read defenses well, too. Carr trusts in him, trusts in his abilities, so that brings him more confidence, so he’s just a great all-around player.”
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Evero said Surtain’s season had put one of the cornerback’s less noticeable strengths on display.
“Probably one of the best things he does that really separates him from a lot of corners is that he has this ability to stay locked in snap in and snap out,” Evero said. “It’s a credit to him that he’s not getting targeted. … Still being able to stay focused in and stay locked in regardless of how many targets he gets and how many opportunities he gets, it’s not easy to do and it’s a testament to him.”
The Broncos and Raiders will square off at 3:05 p.m. CST Sunday at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver.
The Las Vegas injury report showed Adams as a limited practice participant during the week because of an abdominal injury. But with a designation of questionable, he remains in the game plan for the Raiders.
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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.