There are varying reports about the availability of Denver Broncos star cornerback Patrick Surtain ahead of the Oct. 31 NFL trade deadline.
On one hand, it doesn’t make sense for any team to deal away a star 23-year-old cornerback who is under contract for two more seasons. On the other hand, the 1-4 Broncos are said to be willing to blow this whole thing up. Surtain is not going to be able expedite a likely rebuild all by himself. Acquiring a ton of draft capital and/or young players for him could make sense for the struggling Broncos.
Surtain has been among the best cover guys in the NFL since he entered the league as a top-10 pick back in 2021. This season alone, the All-Pro performer is yielding a mere 52% completion and 75.4 QB rating despite Denver’s disastrous performance on defense.
Related: Love Fantasy Sports? Get Top FREE Insights From One Of The World’s Best Players Today!
This is a short-form way of saying that Surtain will have a ton of teams interested in his services should Denver surprisingly put him on the block. If so, here’s a look at four ideal trade scenarios.
Philadelphia Eagles pull off another blockbuster trade
- Eagles get: Patrick Surtain
- Broncos get: Kelee Ringo, 2024 1st-round pick, 2024 2nd-round pick, 2025 2nd-round pick
Eagles general manager Howie Roseman has not been afraid to pull off blockbuster trades in the past. The acquisition of Pro Bowl wide receiver A.J. Brown during the 2022 NFL Draft is a prime example of this. It has helped keep Philadelphia in title contention and will continue to do so.
Philadelphia has veterans Darius Slay and James Bradberry manning the corner spots this season. But it could very well look to add a young star to the mix as a transition to a new era in the secondary takes place. The Eagles have been poor against the pass this season despite a 5-0 start, yielding 11 touchdowns compared to two interceptions for an opposing QB rating of 98.2.
As for Denver, it acquires a young corner in Ringo who could slide in as a starter for the rebuilding team. Picking up two top-60 picks in next year’s draft and a second rounder in 2025 would help expedite said rebuild process.
Related: Updated NFL trade rumors
Detroit Lions go big-game hunting with Patrick Surtain
- Lions get: Patrick Surtain
- Broncos get: Brian Branch, 2024 1st-round pick, 2024 2nd-round pick
The expectation is that Denver will look for a combination of young players and picks if general manager George Paton opts to pull off a trade of this ilk. A second-round selection out of Alabama, Branch has looked like a keeper thus far during his rookie season. Just ask reigning NFL MVP Patrick Mahomes. In reality, he’d be a long-term anchor to replace the 29-year-old Justin Simmons — also a potential trade chip — at safety in Denver.
No longer can we look at the Lions as a nice story or an up-and-coming team. General manager Brad Holmes and head coach Dan Campbell have built a bully in Detroit. The team sits at 4-1 this season and looks like a legitimate conference title contender.
One area that’s missing is cornerback. Free-agent signing Emmanuel Moseley is out for the season with a torn ACL. Cameron Sutton is also probably nothing more than a stopgap option. Imagine acquiring Surtain to team up with stud edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson as lynchpins on this defense moving forward. It would scare opposing offenses in a big way.
Related: Ranking all 32 NFL defenses
Chicago Bears pull off franchise altering trade
- Bears get: Patrick Surtain, 2024 2nd-round pick
- Broncos get: 2024 1st-round pick
For all of Chicago’s struggles and drama over the years, things might be looking up to an extent. Justin Fields is coming off a solid two-game performance. Pro Bowl wide receiver D.J. Moore absolutely dominated the Washington Commanders in Week 5 (8 receptions, 230 yards, 3 TD) as the Bears snapped their 14-game losing streak.
The question here is whether Chicago president Kevin Warren is willing to allow general manager Ryan Poles to pull off another blockbuster trade. Both Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus are said to be on the hot seat. Making a deal of this ilk would commit the Bears to at least Poles for the long-term.
If Chicago did indeed come to Denver with an offer that included either of its first-round picks in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Broncos would have to listen. As of right now, they are projected to have the No. 1 and No. 2 picks in the annual event. Moving off a second rounder to lure the Bears would be worth it given that the Broncos would then be in play for the top quarterback(s) in a class full of elite talent at this position.
Related: NFL players on the trade block ahead of Oct. 31
San Francisco 49ers pull off another mid-season blockbuster
- 49ers get: Patrick Surtain
- Broncos get: Deommodore Lenoir, 2024 1st-round pick, 2024 2nd-round pick, 2025 2nd-round pick
Recent reports indicate that the league-best 49ers could be big-time players ahead of the Oct. 31 NFL trade deadline. Despite how dominant they have been over the first five weeks of the season, it makes sense. San Francisco boasts the most cap room in the NFL and has a projected 11 picks in next year’s draft.
It doesn’t take a genius to realize that San Francisco is all in with its current roster. General manager John Lynch also has not been afraid to pull off eye-opening trades, including the acquisition of NFL MVP candidate Christian McCaffrey at about this time last year. Adding Surtain to the mix to go with Charvarius Ward at cornerback would make the 49ers’ defense even that much more dominant.
As for the Broncos, they add a young corner in Lenoir who has displayed some flashes in San Francisco (76.4 QB rating in five games, all starts this season). Picking up three early-round selections including a first next April would also give Denver more assets to work with moving forward.