Broncos' Surtain becomes 1st CB to win DPOY since 2019
Denver Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain took home the 2024 Defensive Player of the Year award Thursday at NFL Honors.
Surtain is the first corner to be named the league's top defender since former New England Patriots star Stephon Gilmore in 2019.
Cleveland Browns edge rusher Myles Garrett, Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt, Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson, and Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Zack Baun were also DPOY finalists this year.
The Broncos star earned 330 points from votes, according to The Associated Press' Rob Madddi. Hendrickson finished second with 205 points, followed by Garrett (162), Watt (114), and Baun (63).
Surtain was a cornerstone of a strong Broncos defense that helped the team make the playoffs with rookie Bo Nix at quarterback. Surtain finished the season with 45 tackles, 11 pass breakups, one forced fumble, and four interceptions, including a 100-yard pick-6. His advanced stats are even more impressive.
Watt was the DPOY favorite for most of the regular season and finished with 11.5 sacks and an NFL-high six forced fumbles. However, he had only two sacks in his final five games, both in the same contest.
Garrett - the 2023 DPOY - earned his fourth first-team All-Pro nod in five years after posting 14 sacks to go along with 22 tackles for loss, the most in the league. Hendrickson, meanwhile, led the NFL with 17.5 sacks. Finally, Baun was one of the season's biggest surprises, as he recorded a monster 2024 with 151 tackles (11 for loss), five quarterback hits, five forced fumbles, 3.5 sacks, and one interception while playing on a one-year deal in Philly.
Surtain is a three-time Pro Bowler who's earned a pair of first-team All-Pro berths since the Broncos drafted him at No. 9 in 2021.