As the NFL just crossed the midway point of the 2025 season, the Denver Broncos sit at 7-2 and are leading the AFC West. While head coach Sean Payton deserves a lot of credit, the emergence of Pat Surtain as one of the best defensive players of this generation is notable. While Surtain’s injury has him currently sidelined, he’s done enough this season to cement himself as the leading defensive player. So much so, Next Gen Stats via the NFL has ranked Surtain as the best lockdown corner in the league. Surtain received a score of 96, and some impressive stats to back it up.
“Surtain continued that tremendous play in 2025 up until the pectoral injury he sustained in Week 9, which makes his availability week to week,” The Next Gen Stats Analytics Team wrote on NFL.com. “Prior to that injury, Surtain had not surrendered a touchdown in coverage or allowed a single reception beyond 12 air yards. His greatest impact might be his ability to repel targets from coming to his area of the field. Since the start of last season, he has faced just a 10.4% target rate, sixth-lowest among 116 corners with 300+ coverage snaps, despite matching up with No. 1 receivers on a league-high 261 routes in that span.
“On the rare occasion the ball does come his way, he makes life difficult on pass catchers. This season, Surtain has forced a tight window on 51.5% of targets, second in the league (min. 20 targets), and has made a play on the ball nine times (26.5%), the third-highest rate. Unfortunately, it appears the Broncos and their fifth-ranked defense might have to navigate life without the NFL’s best cornerback for a while.”
While Surtain will be week to week with a pectoral injury, the Broncos will still look for an eighth victory this Thursday against the Las Vegas Raiders.
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This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: NFL: Pat Surtain ranked as top shutdown cornerback
