For a guy that shares the same nickname as a video game console, Pat Surtain II might not be in love with that industry at the moment.
The almost universally accepted best cornerback in the NFL is not that to be just that by the sport’s top video game Madden. The ratings came out for the Electronic Arts game’s top 10 defensive players at a few spots on Thursday and not only did they not have the 2024 Defensive Player of the Year as a 99 — which we already knew — they actually have him as not the best player at his position. Instead New England Patriots corner Christian Gonzalez, who beat PS2 and the Broncos in the AFC Championship Game got the top spot. Perhaps the final salt in the wound from that brutal Bo Nix-less loss.
Gonzalez is an awesome player and has a local tie, starting his college career with the Colorado Buffaloes before transferring to Oregon. He made the Pro Bowl for the first time last year and is no doubt a premier player. But even on the league-wide poll of executives, coaches and scouts done by ESPN didn’t have a single voter placing him as the top corner in football. Same story goes for the AP poll that listed PS2 in the top slot and Houston’s Derek Stingley Jr. above Gonzalez.
Top 10 Cornerbacks
- Christian Gonzalez, New England Patriots: 98
- Patrick Surtain II, Denver Broncos: 97
- Trent McDuffie, Los Angeles Rams: 94
- Denzel Ward, Cleveland Browns: 93
- Derek Stingley Jr., Houston Texans: 92
- Devon Witherspoon, Seattle Seahawks: 91
- Jaylon Johnson, Chicago Bears: 90
- Sauce Gardner, Indianapolis Colts: 90
- Quinyon Mitchell, Philadelphia Eagles: 89
- Cooper DeJean, Philadelphia Eagles: 89
Another Broncos player got love on the released lists, with Nik Bonito starting the year as the ninth-best edge rusher in the NFL.
Top 10 Edge Rushers
- Myles Garrett, Los Angeles Rams: 99
- Micah Parsons, Green Bay Packers: 98
- Maxx Crosby, Las Vegas Raiders: 97
- Will Anderson Jr., Houston Texans: 95
- Nick Bosa, San Francisco 49ers: 94
- Aidan Hutchinson, Detroit Lions: 93
- T.J. Watt, Pittsburgh Steelers: 93
- Danielle Hunter, Houston Texans: 92
- Nik Bonito, Denver Broncos: 91
- Trey Hendrickson, Baltimore Ravens: 90
