Defensive Player of the Year Patrick Surtain II voted NFL's top cornerback by AP
Patrick Surtain II became only the seventh cornerback to win the AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year award, doing so last season.
His shutdown season also helped him earn the top cornerback spot in voting by a panel of eight AP Pro Football Writers who ranked the top five players at the position, basing selections on current status entering the 2025 season. First-place votes were worth 10 points. Second- through fifth-place votes were worth 5, 3, 2 and 1 points.
Advertisement
Surtain received five first-place votes and three seconds. Sauce Gardner got two first-place votes, finishing second. Cooper DeJean got the other first-place vote, appearing on only one of eight ballots.
Derek Stingley Jr. finished third, Trent McDuffie was fourth and DeJean placed fifth.
Jaylon Johnson, Marlon Humphrey, Charvarius Ward and DJ Reed also received votes.
1. PATRICK SURTAIN II, Denver Broncos
Surtain had an outstanding season, allowing just 37 receptions and recording four interceptions to earn All-Pro honors.
Opposing quarterbacks had a 61.1 passer rating when targeting Surtain, who became just the second Broncos player to win the AP Defensive Player of the Year award.
Advertisement
He received three second-place votes along with the five firsts.
2. SAUCE GARDNER, New York Jets
After earning All-Pro honors his first two seasons in the NFL, Gardner had a down year by his standards. Still, he appeared on seven ballots to finish behind Surtain.
Gardner has forced a league-high 46 incompletions and allowed a league-low 0.60 yards per cover snap since his rookie season.
3. DEREK STINGLEY JR., Houston Texans
Stingley was a first-time All-Pro last season, emerging as one of the NFL's best cover cornerbacks.
Selected one spot ahead of Gardner at No. 3 overall in the 2022 draft, Stingley had a breakout season last year. He had five interceptions and gave up 40 catches for 382 yards and four TDs.
Advertisement
Stingley got three second-place votes and five fourths.
4. TRENT MCDUFFIE, Kansas City Chiefs
McDuffie earned All-Pro honors as a slot cornerback in 2023 and was second-team All-Pro after moving back outside last season.
While the Chiefs don't use McDuffie to shadow opposing receivers, he is an elite cover guy.
McDuffie allowed 54 catches for 545 yards and four TDs in 2024.
He received one second-place vote, two thirds, one fourth and four fifth.
5. COOPER DEJEAN, Philadelphia Eagles
DeJean's first career interception was a pick-6 against Patrick Mahomes in the Super Bowl, helping the Eagles dominate the Chiefs in a 40-22 victory.
A second-round pick in 2024, DeJean was a super slot cornerback for Philadelphia. He didn't allow a TD on 97 targets.
___
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Los Angeles Times
27 minutes ago
- Los Angeles Times
Shannon Sharpe settles $50 million lawsuit with woman who accused him of rape
A $50-million lawsuit that accused Shannon Sharpe of rape has been settled. Attorney Tony Buzbee, whose firm represented a Jane Doe, who filed the civil lawsuit against the retired NFL star and sports media personality earlier this year, announced the settlement on Friday afternoon in a statement posted on Instagram. 'After protracted and respectful negotiations, I'm pleased to announce that we have reached a mutually agreed upon resolution,' Buzbee wrote. 'All matters have now been addressed satisfactorily, and the matter is closed. The lawsuit will thus be dismissed with prejudice.' Sharpe's legal team confirmed to The Times that a settlement had been reached and that Buzbee's statement should be considered the 'final word' on the matter. According to the lawsuit, filed on April 20 in Clark County, Nev., Sharpe and his accuser met at a Los Angeles gym in 2023, when he was 54 and she was 20. They ended up having 'a rocky consensual relationship that lasted nearly two years,' the lawsuit stated. Sharpe's accuser sought damages for claims of assault, sexual assault, battery, sexual battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress after multiple alleged non-consensual sexual encounters in her Las Vegas apartment between October and January. Sharpe has denied the allegations. One of his attorneys, Lanny J. Davis, told reporters in April that Sharpe had offered his accuser 'at least $10 million' to settle the case in mediation, but the offer was declined. Days after the lawsuit was filed, Sharpe announced that he was temporarily stepping away from his duties as a commentator on ESPN's 'First Take' but would return in time for the 2025 NFL season. Sharpe has remained on his popular podcasts 'Club Shay Shay' and 'Nightcap.'
USA Today
27 minutes ago
- USA Today
Falcons RB Bijan Robinson deemed 2025 MVP candidate by NFL.com
Third-year Falcons running back Bijan Robinson listed as MVP candidate ahead of 2025 NFL season It's been nine years since a member of the Atlanta Falcons last won the league MVP. Former Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan took home the award in 2016 following his remarkable season. Ryan passed for 4,944 yards, 38 touchdowns and seven touchdowns while leading the team to a division title and eventual berth in the Super Bowl. As Atlanta prepares for the start of training camp next week, a different player has emerged in the MVP conversation. Not only was third-year running back Bijan Robinson our choice for the team's most valuable non-quarterback, but now has taken it a step further by listing Robinson as the Falcons' top MVP candidate for 2025. Bijan Robinson named MVP candidate by Some will disagree with this choice, and given that only three running backs have won an MVP award since 2001 (and none since 2012), history is on my skeptics' side. Look at Saquon Barkley last year -- he racked up 2,283 yards from scrimmage, registered just the ninth 2,000-yard rushing season in league annals … and finished third in the balloting. It's going to take a Barkley-esque yardage total and 20-plus TDs, I suspect, for Robinson to be a serious candidate. But I like his chances better right now than those of Michael Penix Jr., a talented but unproven quarterback. He's probably capable of a Joe Burrow-like Year 2, but expecting that level of individual success is just a big leap for me at the moment. -- Eric Edholm, As Edholm pointed out, the league MVP is almost always awarded to the NFL's top quarterback. Bills quarterback Josh Allen won the award last season despite there being two worthy running backs in Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry. For Robinson to secure the award, he would need to have one of the best seasons in NFL history, and the Falcons would probably have to win their division. The former top-10 pick certainly has a nose for the end zone, scoring 23 total touchdowns over his first two NFL seasons. Robinson could realistically flirt with the 2,000-yard rushing milestone next year as well. However, there are so many factors outside of Robinson's control that it's hard to see him winning MVP this season. If the Falcons go out and dominate, though, don't be surprised to see Penix in the mix. Atlanta officially reports for training camp on July 23. The first of the team's 11 open practices begins on July 24. Make sure to check out our latest 53-man roster projection for the Falcons ahead of the 2025 season.
CNN
28 minutes ago
- CNN
Pro Football Hall of Famer and podcast star Shannon Sharpe settles sexual assault and battery lawsuit
Editor's Note: This report contains graphic descriptions of sexual acts. Former NFL star Shannon Sharpe has reached a settlement with the anonymous woman who filed a lawsuit against the famed tight end, accusing him of multiple instances of assault, sexual assault, battery and sexual battery, according to a statement from the accuser's attorney on Friday. 'Both sides acknowledge a long-term consensual and tumultuous relationship,' attorney Tony Buzbee said. 'After protracted and respectful negotiations, I'm pleased to announce that we have reached a mutually agreed upon resolution. All matters have now been addressed satisfactorily, and the matter is closed. The lawsuit will thus be dismissed with prejudice.' A spokesperson for Sharpe confirmed the details of Buzbee's statement and said that the three-time Super Bowl winner would not be commenting further on the matter. The terms of the settlement were not disclosed. The lawsuit originally sought compensatory and punitive damages of more than $50 million. Sharpe's legal representatives previously described the lawsuit, filed in April, as an attempt to 'shake down' the popular podcaster for millions of dollars and said he 'categorically denies all allegations of coercion or misconduct.' Sharpe has also disputed the claims. 'To my family, friends, supporters and colleagues, I want to speak to you directly and from the heart,' Sharpe said in a video released on X in April. 'This is a shakedown. I'm going to be open, transparent and defend myself, because this isn't right.' In the suit filed in a Las Vegas district court, 'Jane Doe' accused former NFL All-Pro of 'manipulating and controlling' the plaintiff during a nearly two-year period that started in 2023 as a consensual relationship when the woman was 20 years old. The civil complaint alleged Sharpe, 56, 'violently sexually assaulted and anally raped Plaintiff,' in October 2024 and again in January of this year in Las Vegas, Nevada, 'blatantly ignoring her requests for him to stop.' The suit stated: 'After many months of manipulating and controlling Plaintiff — a woman more than thirty years younger than he — and repeatedly threatening to brutally choke and violently slap her, Sharpe refused to accept the answer no and raped Plaintiff, despite her sobbing and repeated screams of 'no.'' When asked if Jane Doe had contacted police during or after the alleged assaults, Buzbee said he could not comment. Sharpe's attorney, Lanny J. Davis, said the woman is attempting to blackmail his client and that the pair's relationship was consensual and 'sexual in nature — and, in many cases, initiated by her with specific and graphic requests.' The Pro Football Hall of Famer was inducted as part of the Class of 2011. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos in 1990 and retired following the 2003 season as the NFL's all-time leader in catches, yards and touchdowns by a tight end. Sharpe won two Super Bowls with Denver and then another while a member of the Baltimore Ravens. After his playing career Sharpe went on to a successful television career and hosts the popular 'Club Shay Shay' podcast. In the wake of the lawsuit, Sharpe announced he would temporarily take time away from his role on ESPN, where he is one of the faces of the morning sports debate show 'First Take.' 'I will be devoting this time to my family, and responding and dealing with these false and disruptive allegations set against me. I plan to return to ESPN at the start of the NFL preseason,' Sharpe said at the time. Following Sharpe's announcement, ESPN said in a statement, 'This is a serious situation, and we agree with Shannon's decision to step away.' ESPN declined to comment on Friday's settlement and Sharpe's potential return to the network.
