Pat Surtain II has already established himself as one of the NFL’s elite cornerbacks. A lockdown defender with elite instincts, quickness, and ball skills, the Denver Broncos star has routinely shut down some of the best wide receivers in the league since entering the NFL in 2021.
But as he looks ahead to the 2025 season, Surtain has his eyes set on something far more unique than just being one of the league’s best defensive backs.
Pat Surtain II Calls for Broncos To ‘Put Me at Receiver’
The two-time Pro Bowler recently made waves with an unexpected proposition — he wants to play offense, too. Surtain, who has spent his career shadowing elite wide receivers, believes he has what it takes to become one. With the rise of two-way NFL Draft phenom Travis Hunter, the idea of an NFL star playing both sides of the ball doesn’t seem as far-fetched as it once did.
During a recent interview, Surtain expressed his confidence in making the transition, believing that his years of going against the best receivers in the league have prepared him to be a difference-maker on offense.
“Put me at receiver. Let me make a couple plays here and there. I could do it,” Surtain said. “Whatever route you need me to, whatever you need me to do, I’m there… me at receiver is very dynamic. Playing cornerback and going up against the top wideouts in the game each and every week, I think that would definitely help my case out even more.”
BREAKING: All-Pro cornerback Patrick Surtain would like to play WIDE RECEIVER for the #Broncos
“Put me at WR. Let me make a couple plays here and there. I could do it. Whatever route you need me to, whatever you need me to do, me at WR is very dynamic”
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(Via @denverwestword) pic.twitter.com/Qj27ntv3RB
— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) January 31, 2025
His comments immediately sparked debate. Could one of the NFL’s best cornerbacks really make an impact at wide receiver?
While rare, there is precedent. Hall of Fame cornerback Deion Sanders occasionally played wide receiver during his career, and Charles Woodson did the same early in his NFL tenure. But in today’s game, with offenses more complex and demanding than ever, playing both ways at a high level is nearly unheard of.
The Travis Hunter Effect
If Surtain is looking for inspiration, he doesn’t have to look far. Colorado’s Hunter has taken the college football world by storm, excelling as both a cornerback and wide receiver under Sanders’ tutelage.
He’s made highlight-reel plays on both sides of the ball, proving that a true two-way player can still exist in modern football.
Hunter’s versatility has made him one of the most hyped prospects in years, with some analysts projecting him as the potential No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. The fact that he can dominate in two completely different roles is what makes him such a unicorn — something rarely seen in sports today outside of anomalies like Shohei Ohtani in the MLB.
Surtain certainly has the athleticism to make an impact at wide receiver. At 6’2” and 202 pounds, he has the size, speed, and ball skills to at least be a red-zone weapon. His ability to read defenses from a cornerback’s perspective could also help him find soft spots in coverage.
But playing both ways in the NFL is a completely different challenge. The physical toll, the need for specialized offensive skill development, and the Broncos’ offensive depth chart all factor into whether this is a real possibility or just an offseason thought experiment.
