Broncos land cornerback Patrick Surtain II at No. 9

The Denver Broncos selected cornerback Patrick Surtain II out of Alabama in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft, No. 9 overall.

Surtain was the second defender and second cornerback taken Thursday following Jaycee Horn to the Carolina Panthers at No. 8.

Denver has aggressively prioritized the secondary this offseason under new general manager George Patton, signing cornerbacks Kyle Fuller and Ronald Darby in free agency and retaining safety Justin Simmons with the franchise tag.

Surtain is widely viewed as the most NFL-ready cornerback in the draft following a standout career with the Crimson Tide. He should immediately compete for a starting job with Bryce Callahan.

The Broncos needed to find a long-term option at cornerback with Fuller and Callahan both set to become free agents after this season.

Draft Profile

Key stats: 37 tackles, 1 interception, 9 passes defended

You'd be hard-pressed to find a more polished prospect in the 2021 class than Surtain. The son of former Miami Dolphins and Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Patrick Surtain, the Alabama product offers everything NFL teams look for at the position, including size, length, athleticism, ball skills, patience in press coverage, and man-coverage chops. Surtain isn't the quickest defender, but he's battle-tested in the SEC, and his development in certain aspects of the position is a year or two ahead of most young players. He's a Week 1 starter wherever he lands.