The Denver Broncos exercised their fifth-year option for cornerback Pat Surtain II, earning him a one-year fully guaranteed salary worth $19.8 million. It’s $13.1 million higher than his 2023 cap hit worth $6.6 million.

Broncos general manager George Paton said exercising Surtain’s fifth-year option is a no-brainer. That’s the right call for a player who earned two Pro Bowl and one All-Pro selection in three seasons with Denver.

Those achievements affirm the Broncos’ decision to select Surtain ninth overall in the 2021 NFL Draft. Before joining the NFL, he won a national championship with the Alabama Crimson Tide and was the 2020 SEC Defensive Player of the Year.

Denver signed him to a four-year, $20.9 million rookie-scale contract, but Surtain quickly proved he’s worth more than that deal.

In 2022, he became a First-Team All-Pro after recording 60 tackles, 10 passes defended, two interceptions, and a forced fumble. More importantly, he missed only one game in three seasons and played all 34 regular season games in 2022 and 2023.

Exercising Surtain’s fifth-year option also gives the Broncos time to finalize a long-term contract extension with him. Given his past accolades, he will be among the highest-paid NFL cornerbacks. Jaire Alexander is the highest-paid cornerback, with an average annual value of $21 million.

-Lance Fernandez