After giving a massive extension to guard Quinn Meinerz, the next order of business for the Denver Broncos will be reaching an agreement with cornerback Pat Surtain.
Surtain, 24, will earn just over $3.5 million this fall, then his salary will jump to $19.8 million in 2025 when his fifth-year option kicks in. The star cornerback is currently scheduled to become a free agent in 2026, but the Broncos don’t plan to let him test the market.
“We will keep you posted,” Denver coach Sean Payton said last week when asked about a potential extension for Surtain.
As for Surtain, he’s not focused on his next contract.
“No, I haven’t been putting much thought into it,” the cornerback said last Friday. “When that time comes it comes, but right now I’m navigating my focus towards the season and being the best player I can be for this team.”
Now entering his fourth season in the league, Surtain is eligible for an extension, and star players prefer to get a new deal before their contract runs down to one year. Surtain is focusing on training camp and the upcoming season, though, while his agent handles potential talks with the team.
“There’s no specific timeframe right now,” Surtain said. “I’m going to let my agent handle that and let that process speak for itself. Right now, my ongoing focus is the football field for sure.”
The two sides aren’t willing to talk about an extension publicly, but it is clear that the team wants PS2 to stay in Denver long-term.
“I think they’ve made it pretty clear that they want me to be a part of the team, and that’s what I’m looking forward to,” the cornerback said.
The Jacksonville Jaguars recently gave cornerback Tyson Campbell an extension that included $53.4 million guaranteed, a new high for CBs. In terms of total value, Denzel Ward (Cleveland Browns) has the record at $100.5 million. Jaire Alexander (Green Bay Packers) earns the most on a per-year average at $21 million. Alexander also has the record for the largest signing bonus ($30 million) given to a cornerback.
Surtain is considered the best cornerback in the NFL by league personnel, and his agent will want PS2’s salary to reflect that. We expect Surtain to receive a contract near (or higher than) the above figures in the coming months. After giving Meinerz a new deal before training camp, the Broncos might be trending toward an in-season extension for Surtain.
