This Sunday afternoon's matchup between the Broncos and the Jets will feature arguably the two best cornerbacks in the league – Sauce Gardner and Pat Surtain II – sharing the field for the third time in as many seasons. Despite not going head-to-head directly, the two have developed a mutual respect.
"I am always watching film in general and [Surtain] is always showing up on there," Gardner said on Thursday. "He is a dawg, he has been doing this for a little minute, every week it is a highlight, even when the ball not getting thrown his way, he a lock down cornerback for sure and he just got paid, he is well deserving. He deserved that for sure, yeah, he liked that for sure."
Surtain said: "I have nothing but respect of [Gardner's] game and I am sure he feels the same way. We both compete and obviously we both want to be the best, but we have a shared belief and respect in each other at the same time."
Before the season, ESPN surveyed a "handful" of league executives, coaches and scouts to rank cornerbacks in the NFL. More than 50% of voters considered Surtain to be the best in the game, and Gardner garnered several top votes, but ended up third.
Over the offseason, Surtain signed a lucrative four-year, $96-milllion contract extension, making him the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history. Gardner said he isn't focused on his next contract but was happy for the Denver DB and added that Surtain was well deserving.
"We got something special here," Gardner said. "I can't preach taking everything day by day and week by week if I am over here thinking about some individual stuff for myself. We have a good group of guys and coaches, trainers, everybody here. I take none of that for granted."
Surtain, in his fourth professional season, has gotten off to a solid start with 9 tackles and 63 receiving yards allowed, according to Pro Football Focus, over the first 3 games. He has shadowed receivers to varying degrees this season and in Week 3 traveled with Tampa Bay's Mike Evans for 28 snaps. He held the Pro Bowl wideout to 1 reception for 8 yards.
Jets star WR Garrett Wilson will likely draw Surtain's attention in Week 4. Last season, when Denver hosted the Jets in Week 5, Wilson was targeted 6 times with Surtain in coverage and totaled 2 receptions for 22 yards. Surtain also came away with an interception of QB Zach Wilson, who was traded to the Broncos over the offseason.
"[Surtain] is one of the best players in the league at any position and the back end is playing well," QB Aaron Rodgers said. "I mean, they've played three games, they've played solid on defense, so it's going to be a good test for us."
This year's matchup will feature Rodgers, and the bag of tricks he's developed during 20 seasons in the NFL. Sunday will be the first time Rodgers and Surtain have matched up in their careers.
"Aaron Rodgers is a guy that I've always thought about playing," Surtain said. "I watched him growing up, seeing him make just amazing throws each and every year. Obviously, he's a future [Pro Football] Hall of Famer, so I'm looking forward to that matchup. Also, Garrett [Wilson], he's a great receiver, as well. They have a very dynamic connection going on right now."
As for Gardner, coming off consecutive first-team All-Pro selections, he allowed 2 receptions on 3 targets for 9 yards in Week 3 versus the Patriots. Last season against the Broncos, he surrendered 3 receptions for 19 yards – including 1 catch for 13 yards to Denver's current No. 1 receiver Cortland Sutton.
"It is always a competitive matchup between us," Gardner said of Sutton. "I feel like everybody who I go against are competitors and pretty good. You know it is the NFL. He is really physical, a good route runner, good strong hands and I feel like, we have played them the last two years, so we always challenge each other."
