The Denver Broncos’ secondary spent last season making life miserable for opposing quarterbacks, and the numbers backed it up. Denver finished seventh in the NFL in passing yards allowed with 3,182, fourth in passing touchdowns allowed with 18, and first in net yards allowed per attempt at 4.8. That kind of production usually earns a little more shine than the Broncos got in Sports Illustrated’s latest cornerback duo rankings.
Gilberto Manzano’s list for the 2026 season did include Denver in the top five, but only barely. The Broncos landed at No. 5, and Manzano said they were close to being left off entirely because of what the New England Patriots brought to the table.
“In my opinion, Surtain is the No. 1 cornerback in the league because he can contain No. 1 wideouts on a weekly basis, and it wasn’t that long ago that he won Defensive Player of the Year in 2024," Manzano wrote. "But the two-time first-team All-Pro isn’t alone in Denver, playing with Moss, a quality No. 2 outside corner, and McMillian, a productive slot corner. In 2025, the Broncos’ dominant defense allowed only 187.2 passing yards (seventh in the league) and only 18.3 points per game (third in the league)."
He added, "Both of those statistics were better than the Patriots last season, with New England averaging 193.5 passing yards and 18.8 points per game. But maybe the Patriots’ cornerback duo should have gotten the nod for beating the Broncos in the AFC title game. Still, I couldn’t leave Surtain out of the top five."
Pat Surtain got the recognition he deserved here, at least. The Broncos’ All-Pro Second-Team selection has built a case as the league’s top corner with three All-Pro nods and four Pro Bowl selections, and he’s been doing it with the kind of week-to-week consistency that changes how offenses attack.
The bigger question is whether Denver should have been slotted even higher. Riley Moss and Ja’Quan McMillian give the Broncos real value alongside Surtain, whether you view Moss as the No. 2 outside corner or McMillian as the nickel piece. That combination, plus last season’s production, makes a strong argument.
The top three were all loaded with talent: the Philadelphia Eagles’ Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean, the Houston Texans’ Derek Stingley and Kamari Lassiter, and the Seattle Seahawks’ Devon Witherspoon and Nick Emmanwori, who was labeled a nickel corner in this ranking. At No. 4, the Los Angeles Rams’ tandem of Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson got the edge.
That’s a strong group, but Denver’s case is hard to ignore when you start with the best corner in football and add two dependable pieces behind him. The Broncos already showed what this secondary can do in 2025, and with another year of chemistry and an elite front seven in front of them, they have every reason to expect more of the same in 2026.
In Other News...
Overlooked Broncos Receiver Is Suddenly Forcing A Real Camp Conversation
Pat Bryant spent the latter part of the 2025 season earning more work in Denvers offense, and the second-year receiver now looks like one of the more interesting names to watch when camp opens again. Injuries slowed him before the year was over, but Broncos coach Sean Payton has already pointed to Bryants development and growing confidence as he heads into his second season.
For a player who entered the league without much fanfare, that kind of momentum matters. Bryants rise has been enough to make him a legitimate candidate for a bigger role in 2026, and if that progress carries over into training camp, he could turn from a depth piece into a real part of the conversation on offense. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Nearly Landed A Wild Coaching Twist Nobody Saw Coming
Bill Belichick spent the 2024 season on the outside looking in after his departure from New England, and the unusual possibilities around his next stop briefly reached all the way to Denver. An ESPN report said Sean Payton and the Broncos at least kicked around the idea of a one-year setup that would have put Belichick in position to keep chasing NFL history, a reminder of how far teams will go when a coaching legend is suddenly available.
The idea never got past the concept stage, in part because of how many moving pieces it would have required, and Belichick ultimately moved on to a year off before his planned 2025 arrival at North Carolina. He also reportedly checked in with the Jets about their opening, which only adds to the sense that the coaching carousel around him was never going to be simple. For Denver, it remains one of those fascinating what-ifs that says plenty about both Paytons creativity and Belichicks lingering pull. [Read more 🡒]
ESPN Puts Broncos In Top 10 And The AFC West Debate Will Rage
The Broncos head into the 2026 campaign with almost the same roster that helped them build real momentum a year ago, and that continuity is a big reason national evaluators are paying attention. ESPNs Mike Clay, Aaron Schatz and Seth Walder each saw enough to place Denver eighth in their consensus roster rankings, a nod that reflects how far the group has come as it tries to push from promising to legitimate contender.
What makes the conversation around Denver so interesting is where the roster is strongest and where it still feels unfinished. ESPN pointed to the offensive line as a clear asset, but tight end remains the spot that could keep the Broncos from looking complete, with Evan Engram coming off a season in which his role never fully matched the expectations around him. For a team trying to chase a Super Bowl run in a loaded division, that kind of imbalance is exactly the sort of detail that will keep the AFC West debate going. [Read more 🡒]