Broncos' Patrick Surtain II Names Mahomes, Top 5 NFL QBs He Least Wants to Face

Denver Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II doesn't love sharing a division with Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs.

Mahomes was the first quarterback Surtain listed when asked during an interview on the Scoop City podcast to name the passers he least likes to face on the field.

The reigning Defensive Player of the Year also cited the Baltimore Ravens' Lamar Jackson, Buffalo Bills' Josh Allen, Los Angeles Chargers' Justin Herbert and Cincinnati Bengals' Joe Burrow. He saved some praise for teammate Bo Nix, too.

Surtain went with the usual suspects. Allen is the NFL's reigning MVP, while Jackson, Burrow and Mahomes all finished in the top six of the voting. In the case of Herbert, he's still waiting for his playoff breakthrough but has been prolific — 21,093 career passing yards — from the moment he entered the NFL in 2020.

Surtain's comments on Jackson are a little interesting as he noted the evolution in the four-time Pro Bowler's game. In his second year with offensive coordinator Todd Monken, Jackson set career highs in passing yards (4,172) and touchdowns (41), and he led the league in QB rating (119.6) and QBR (77.3).

When he can combine his running ability with efficient passing, the 28-year-old is a nightmare for opposing defenses.

Broncos fans will be heartened by Surtain's assessment of Nix, who exceeded expectations as a rookie.

Denver got mixed reviews when it took the former Auburn and Oregon star 12th overall in the 2024 NFL draft. At 24, he was old for an incoming rookie, and it's hard to pinpoint a standout trait in his game.

Early on, Nix has justified the Broncos' assessment. He threw for 3,775 yards and 29 touchdowns as a rookie and helped get the team into the playoffs.

The 2025 season will give a stronger indication of whether Nix is a player who plateaus early in his career, much like Mac Jones and Derek Carr, or one who's only getting started on his ascent toward elite status.