Rumor: Broncos Open to Patrick Surtain II Trade Offers? Bad Idea
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In a Wednesday mailbag, Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer claimed the Denver Broncos would listen to trade offers for six players, including All-Pro Cornerback Patrick Surtian ll. Breer's remarks come as a surprise to the throng of Broncos fans who've been told that Surtain is 'untouchable.'
Chad, we detailed this last week—but there’s almost as big a penalty for the Broncos to walk away from Russell Wilson after 2024 as there is to do it after this year, meaning the decision the team has to make about its quarterback after Payton’s first season will be a real one. Now, Wilson hasn’t been the problem for Denver. He’s actually been a lot better than he was a year ago, in his first season in Denver. But he hasn’t been good enough to justify the contract, and that’s why I think early ’24 will be the time to cut bait.
After that’s done, I do think Denver will undergo a more thorough retooling, with Payton captaining all of it, which is why the Broncos are going to listen to trade inquiries on Jerry Jeudy, Courtland Sutton, Garett Bolles, Josey Jewell, Justin Simmons, and even Patrick Surtain II over the next six days. The Broncos aren’t close, they need picks, and it makes sense to explore getting more.
While it makes sense for a rebuilding Broncos squad to sell assets for draft capital, Surtain shouldn't even be on the table. Allow me to break it down.
It’s easy enough to say that the Broncos need to trade players away to start the rebuild process. Denver desperately needs draft capital, as it only has six selections in next year's draft.
So, what should the compensation look like for a top NFL corner like Surtain? The closest baseline deal is the Jacksonville Jaguars-Los Angeles Rams trade for Jalen Ramsey in 2019. The Jaguars received two first-round picks and a fourth-rounder in exchange for Ramsey.
Ramsey was 25 years old when he was shipped to L.A. with a year and a half of control left on his contract — a fifth-year option. For Surtain, the haul would undoubtedly be more significant as he only turned 23 back in April.
Not only is he younger than Ramsey was when he was dealt to L.A., but Surtain is under contract for another 2.5 years. Another factor worth mentioning is that Ramsey was a bit of a headcase in Jacksonville.
During his tenure, Surtain has been through three different coaching staffs and has been a class act despite the organizational dysfunction. Considering all this, he's worth significantly more than Ramsey when he was dealt.
Surtain has played at an All-Pro level since entering the league in 2021 and is nowhere near hitting his peak. Denver should hang up the phone on any offer short of three first-round draft picks as the starting point.
Anything less than that, Surtain stays in Dove Valley. Would that be unprecedented for a non-QB? Yes, but that's the caliber of player we’re talking about. If that price is outrageous, so be it.
Who would be trading for Surtain is another point to consider. The most likely scenario is a Super Bowl contender like the San Francisco 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles, Baltimore Ravens, or Buffalo Bills. Even if Denver gets a team to bite for its asking price, the first-round picks would be at the bottom of the draft since these are playoff-caliber teams.
While there's still quality talent in the back end of the first round, would such a pick be on the talent level of Surtain? Possible but improbable.
Draft picks are like lottery tickets, so a contender that is one shutdown corner away from putting them over the top would use such capital to trade for Surtain’s services. He's a known commodity vs. an unknown hill of magic beans.
Denver going into rebuild mode doesn’t mean handing away its best player. A team still needs a few foundational pieces to rebuild around.
Surtain is the cornerstone of this defense and franchise going forward. Keeping an exceptional and upstanding talent like him around will only benefit the Broncos in the future.
The instant gratification of acquiring draft picks would come at the cost of the Broncos' foundational player. It's a price that should not be paid.
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