Denver Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain II was named the 2024 AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year at NFL Honors on Thursday night, becoming just the second defensive back to win the award since 2010. Surtain earned 26 first-place votes and 330 points, with Bengals pass rusher Trey Hendrickson behind him.
Surtain’s impressive season saw him intercept four passes, make 11 passes defended, force a fumble, recover an interception, and record a tackle for loss in 16 starts. He was particularly effective against the Raiders, returning one of his interceptions for a touchdown in Week 5.
Despite limited opportunities to make plays due to his team’s pass-averse approach, Surtain excelled with only 10.9% of coverage snaps targeted at him. He allowed just 306 receiving yards across 516 coverage snaps, an average of 0.6 yards per snap, the second-fewest among cornerbacks.
Surtain’s ability in man and zone coverage made him a dominant force on the field. His passer rating allowed was the lowest mark among cornerbacks with at least 20 targets, at just 46.6. This season’s award marks Surtain’s first Defensive Player of the Year honor, following previous Pro Bowl mentions.
The Broncos’ success in the playoffs, including their first win since 2015, saw Surtain play a crucial role on defense that ranked top 10 in several categories. He is now the first Bronco to win the award since linebacker Randy Gradishar in 1978.
Source: https://www.nfl.com/news/broncos-cb-pat-surtain-ii-wins-2024-ap-nfl-defensive-player-of-the-year-award