Patrick Surtain II makes bold proclamation on Jerry Jeudy

Cornerback Patrick Surtain II and wide receiver Jerry Jeudy were teammates with the Alabama Crimson Tide during the 2018 and 2019 seasons, and now the two are entering their second year as teammates with the Denver Broncos. The Broncos selected Jeudy with the 15th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, and Surtain was brought in with the ninth overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.

Surtain has seen a lot of Jeudy, both on the field during games and on the practice field. With quarterback Russell Wilson now leading the Broncos offense, Surtain thinks that Jeudy is in line for a breakout season. The two young stars have made each other better by practicing against one another every day, and that has begun to show on the field.

Once Jeudy “gets going,” Surtain thinks that he could be a top three receiver in the NFL.

“Yeah man, Jeudy, I could tell you one thing,” Surtain said during a Twitter Space ahead of the 2022 NFL Draft. “Once Jeudy gets going, I could see him as a top three receiver. Like, no doubt. I mean I just see it firsthand. The routes that he runs, how crispy he is in and out of his breaks, that’s something special. He’s going into his third year. So seeing someone like that, he’s so savvy in and out of his routes, he looked like a vet. Of course having Russ under center, this year I look forward to him having a dynamic year, a special year at that.

“But the battles we had, we have in practice, that we had in Bama, it made me better and of course it made him better as well, too. It’s just something that you look forward to each and every day, going against a guy like that. You know that’s going to get you better, and at the end of the day it’s just sharpening my toolbox going up against him. He’s a special, special player. I feel like this year is gonna be the breakout year.”

Surtain, Jeudy are part of an impressive young core with the Broncos

The Broncos are certainly looking to leap back into contention next season. With the addition of Wilson, Denver might finally be in a position to return to the playoffs and contend for the Super Bowl, although they’ll have to do so competing against a loaded AFC West. Regardless, the Broncos are excited about having Jeudy and Surtain as young building blocks on both sides of the ball.

Jeudy caught 52 passes for 856 yards and three touchdowns as a rookie in 2020, but his 2021 season was cut short due to injuries. He played in ten games last season, hauling in 38 receptions for 467 yards. Jeudy is averaging 14.7 yards per reception in his two-year NFL career, and with Wilson throwing him the ball, he could be in line for a major third-year leap.

Surtain impressed right away as a rookie with the Broncos, totaling 58 tackles, one tackle for loss, 14 passes defended, and four interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown.