Vincent Frank
Denver Broncos head coach and de facto general manager Sean Payton has already made an imprint on the team’s underachieving roster by moving off veteran edge rushers Randy Gregory and Frank Clark.
There is an expectation that the 2-5 Broncos will continue to make moves and be sellers ahead of next Tuesday’s NFL trade deadline.
The likes of wide receivers Jerry Jeudy and Courtland Sutton have been bandied about the most. Offensive tackle Garett Bolles and linebacker Josey Jewell are also names to keep an eye on.
However, a recent report from Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated suggests that teams are calling Denver in hopes of landing All-Pro third-year cornerback Patrick Surtain II. Breer goes on to note that it would cost a lot to acquire the former first-round pick from Alabama.
We’ve heard rumors about Surtain potentially being the subject of trade talks. But this is the first concrete report suggesting activity on that end.
Whether one of the game’s best cornerbacks is even on the market remains to be seen. As Breer notes, it would cost an arm and a leg to even entice Denver into thinking about a trade. Maybe a first born and the like, too.
Related: Updated NFL trade rumors
Cost of Denver Broncos trading Patrick Surtain II
Teams likely are starting off by offering up a first-and-secound-round selection. Though, it seems more likely that said offers would have to include two first rounders and change given just how dominant the 23-year-old Surtain II has been in his career.
Last season saw the former top-10 pick tally 60 tackles, 10 passes defended and two interceptinos. Opposing quarterbacks completed just 58% of their passes while boasting a 82.6 QB rating when targeting him. We’re talking about a true shutdown cornerback who has yet to hit his prime and could be under contract through the 2025 season. That type of player will reset the NFL trade market as we know it.
As for teams that might be willing to offer up the house for Surtain II, the San Francisco 49ers come to mind first. They are expected to be active ahead of the NFL trade deadline.
General manager John Lynch also hasn’t shied away from pulling off blockbusters of this ilk, including acquiring Christian McCaffrey from the Carolina Panthers a year ago this month. The 49ers are coming off a Week 7 loss in which their defense yielded 378 passing yards to Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins.
It’s almost a foregone conclusion that Lynch is one of the general managers that have called up Denver. He also just worked out a trade with Denver for the aforementioned Gregory.
The Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles, Detroit Lions, Miami Dolphins and Jacksonville Jaguars are other teams to keep an eye on.
