Patrick Surtain II Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Broncos shouldn't trade All-Pro CB

By Clark Dalton | Last updated 10/26/23

After an awful 2-5 start, the Denver Broncos need to acquire more draft capital and rebuild. Despite the Broncos being sellers at the trade deadline, they might regret dealing Patrick Surtain II.

On Wednesday, Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated reported the Broncos will listen to trade calls on six players, including Surtain II, before the trade deadline next Tuesday.

"I do think Denver will undergo a more thorough retooling," Breer wrote of the impending rebuild. "The Broncos aren't close, they need picks, and it makes sense to explore getting more."

Even considering the fact that the Broncos are looking to rebuild, trading Surtain II isn't wise. In the offseason, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler surveyed 80 coaches, scouts and executives who ranked the 23-year-old as the No. 1 CB in the NFL.

"He's separated himself, and I don't think it's close," an AFC scout said of Surtain II, per Fowler. "If you're picking a team, you're taking him first."

Patrick Surtain with a HUGE interception to keep the Broncos' hopes alive pic.twitter.com/rZAgmu8TNc
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) October 8, 2023

This season, the former first-round pick has continued establishing himself as a lockdown CB. Per Pro Football Reference, he's only allowed two touchdowns in coverage and logged seven pass deflections, tied for fourth in the NFL.

Several teams would offer a massive package for the Alabama product. The Athletic's Jeff Howe and Mike Jones proposed Denver should trade Surtain II to the Detroit Lions for a 2024 second and 2025 third-rounder.

The simple fact is, however, that the awful Broncos defense can't afford to lose a player like Surtain II. It's last in the league in points (31 PPG) and yards (424.7 YPG) allowed.

Trading Surtain II is the wrong move. While it would give Denver more draft picks, it could actually make rebuilding more difficult since the franchise would lose a promising player who's becoming a star. Much better to build around him than start from scratch.

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