The individual honors for the 2024 NFL season will be announced next month, and one interesting race is for Defensive Player of the Year.
Early in the season, it looked like Detroit Lions defensive lineman Aidan Hutchinson had a good chance to win that award, but he suffered a serious leg injury in Week 6 and has been out since.
T.J. Watt of the Pittsburgh Steelers has been thought to perhaps be the favorite, but another player reportedly has emerged.
“Broncos superstar CB Pat Surtain is a heavy favorite to win DPOY with 65% odds on Polymarket Sports,” JPAFootball wrote on X.
: #Broncos superstar CB Pat Surtain is a heavy favorite to win DPOY with 65% odds on @PolymarketSport
He’s been absolutely lock down this year and 100% deserves to win the award. pic.twitter.com/0jrY1pVqjW
— JPAFootball (@jasrifootball) January 9, 2025
Hardly anyone outside of Colorado expected the Broncos to do anything of note when this season began, but after losing their first two games they started to pick up steam.
With a Week 18 win against the Kansas City Chiefs, Denver clinched its first playoff spot since 2015, and although rookie quarterback Bo Nix has played very well of late, the Broncos did so largely thanks to their defense.
That unit finished third in points allowed and seventh in total yards allowed, and Surtain has been one of the backbones with 11 passes defended, four interceptions and one pick-six.
There were rumors just months ago that he would get traded, but he instead signed a contract extension, and it appears the 24-year-old will be in Denver for a long time, whether he wins Defensive Player of the Year or not.
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