The accolades keep coming for Pat Surtain II. The Broncos star cornerback was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year by the Pro Football Writers of America on Wednesday. He is the first Denver player and fourth cornerback to win the award since it was instituted in 1992. Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson, the first quarterback in league history to record more than 4,000 yards passing and 800 yards rushing in a season, was named the PFWA’s Most Valuable Player. Meanwhile, Eagles running back Saquon Barkley was honored as the Offensive Player of the Year after rushing for 2,005 yards and 13 touchdowns. Surtain gave opposing pass catchers problems throughout the 2024 campaign. The fourth-year defensive back totaled 45 tackles, 11 passes defended and four interceptions, including a pick-six against the Raiders in Week 5. Surtain was second in yards allowed (306) and passer rating allowed (59.1) among cornerbacks with 300 coverage snaps, according to NFL’s Next Gen Stats. “You can joke and say that he was born to play ball. His dad (Patrick Surtain Sr.) was an amazing player when he played in the league,” Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton said during the season. “He’s a technician, a student of his craft and I think when you combine all of those things together, you can have a really good player.” Surtain lined up against some of the league’s best wide receivers, and didn’t flinch. He gave up three catches for 29 yards on four targets against Seattle wideout DK Metcalf in Week 1. Against Tampa Bay in Week 3, Surtain held veteran Mike Evans to one catch for eight yards. In Denver’s loss to the Bengals in Week 17, Surtain lined up against Ja’Marr Chase on 43 coverage snaps, allowing just three catches for 27 yards on six targets, according to Next Gen Stats. The 2021 first-round pick didn’t allow more than 50 yards in a game this season. “He doesn’t run from (receivers). He runs to them,” safety JL Skinner told The Denver Post. “That’s all that needs to be said (about Surtain).” Surtain, a three-time Pro Bowl selection, was also honored as a first-team All-Pro by the Associated Press for the second time in his career. On Monday, he was one of four Bronco players, including outside linebacker Nik Bonitto, punt returner Marvin Mims Jr. and right guard Quinn Meinerz, to be named to the PFWA’s All-NFL team. Outside linebacker Jonah Elliss was selected for the PFWA’s All-Rookie team. Surtain’s impressive season has also put him in line to win the Associated Press Defensive Player of the Year award, which will be announced next month. Only two cornerbacks have won the award since 2009: Stephon Gilmore and Charles Woodson. “He goes against the No.1 receiver every week and he’s holding his own,” rookie cornerback Kris Abrams-Draine told The Post. “I don’t think anyone had 40 yards on him. For somebody to affect the game like that, I think he should win (defensive player of the year).”