Patrick Surtain II Contract Extension to Be Explored by Broncos During NFL Offseason

Picking up the fifth-year option for cornerback Patrick Surtain II "pretty close" to a guarantee this offseason, according to Denver Broncos general manager George Paton.

"That's one of the easier decisions we'll make," he told reporters Tuesday.

Paton added the team will "look into" a long-term extension with Surtain, who's eligible to become an unrestricted free agent in 2026.

Triggering the fifth-year option would guarantee Surtain a $19.8 million salary for 2025, though he's eligible to sign an extension as early as this spring. Doing so would not only provide the player and Denver with long-term security but also perhaps be a way to lower his cap burden a bit for the 2025 season.

The 23-year-old is poised to become one of the highest-paid corners in the league whenever he signs a multiyear pact, though.

Surtain is already a two-time Pro Bowler with an All-Pro nod on his résumé. In 2023, he had 69 tackles, 12 pass breakups and one interception. According to Pro Football Reference, he held opposing quarterbacks to a 59.3 percent completion rate and an 88.2 passer rating.

As a franchise, the franchise is in a bit of a holding pattern thanks to quarterback Russell Wilson.

Head coach Sean Payton clearly doesn't believe in the nine-time Pro Bowler long-term after benching him with two weeks left in the season. Cutting Wilson, meanwhile, would bind Paton's hands a lot for a year or two. Designating him as a post-June 1 release would put $35.4 million in dead money on the books plus another $49.6 million in 2025.

But that shouldn't change how the front office views Surtain. He can be a key contributor to the secondary over the long haul and certainly remain effective when the organization is better positioned to harbor big ambitions.