There may be no better defensive player in the NFL right now than Denver Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II.

Sauce Gardner notwithstanding, Surtain became the first cornerback to win the Associated Press NFL Defensive Player of the Year award in 2024 since Stephon Gilmore claimed it with the New England Patriots in 2019.

Following his award-winning season, Surtain has continued to play at an elite level—and the New York Jets are preparing for the challenge of going up against a corner of his caliber.

This is especially critical when it comes to testing him with their own No. 1 receiver.

Jets Ready for Surtain Test

Despite Surtain’s dominance, the Jets believe they’re well prepared to face a player of his stature.

While Gardner hasn’t matched the All-Pro level of Denver’s top defensive back this season, he remains an elite presence after four strong years. Throughout training camp, New York had Gardner match up against top wideout Garrett Wilson, as well as the rest of the Jets’ receiving corps.

That experience against a premier corner could prove valuable in Sunday’s international showdown in London—even if Surtain’s style differs from Gardner’s physical approach.

“This guy’s a good player,” Jets offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand said Thursday. “He’s a sticky, man-coverage player. He’s aggressive, he’s physical, he’s going to try to be up in your face.

“It’ll be a challenge for anybody he lines up against, but he’s a good football player. He’s been there for a few years now and is a solid player.”

Over the past two seasons, Surtain has consistently shut down some of the NFL’s best receivers. In last week’s win over the Philadelphia Eagles, he held A.J. Brown to five catches for just 43 yards — with zero receptions in the second half.

It’s the kind of performance that could await Wilson on Sunday if the Jets aren’t ready.

Garrett Wilson looks forward to 1v1 battle

Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson is no stranger to lining up against Surtain. In last season’s 10-9 loss to Denver, Surtain matched up against Wilson on 28 of 46 passing plays. Wilson finished with just two catches for 22 yards.

In their 2023 meeting—a 31-21 win for New York—Wilson managed only three receptions for 54 yards.

In short, Surtain has had the upper hand in the head-to-head matchup so far, but Wilson is eager to flip the script in Week 6.

“Every time I get reps against him, for me, it’s a game within a game,” Wilson said after practice Thursday. “He truly trusts his feet. It’s rare you see that nowadays. It’s really special to see. I’ve always embraced the challenge and hope I can get the best of him sometimes this weekend.”

While Surtain remains the anchor of Denver’s defense, the entire unit is performing at a high level.

The Broncos lead the league in sacks and are one of the best at generating takeaways and forcing mistakes. But Surtain, with his lockdown coverage and physical presence, is the engine that drives the group.

The Jets will need to find ways to win in the passing game if they hope to pull off an upset in London—and it starts with the Wilson vs. Surtain matchup