The Denver Broncos already acted this year to keep cornerback Patrick Surtain II out of NFL free agency at the end of the 2024 season. Now the Broncos have moved to keep the former Alabama All-American in Denver with a long-term contract.

Surtain and the Broncos have agreed on a four-year, $96 million contract extension that has the highest average value of any deal for a defensive back in NFL history, thednvr.com, NFL Network and ESPN reported on Wednesday.

At $24 million per season, the average value of Surtain’s new contract surpasses the $21 million average of cornerback Jaire Alexander with the Green Bay Packers.

Surtain’s deal includes a reported $77.5 million in guaranteed money, surpassing the previous high for a cornerback of $71.25 million of the Cleveland Browns’ Denzel Ward.

At Alabama, Surtain earned unanimous All-American recognition and won the SEC Defensive Player of the Year Award in 2020, when the Crimson Tide captured the CFP national championship with an undefeated record.

Denver made Surtain the ninth selection in the 2021 NFL Draft. In his three NFL seasons, Surtain has been picked for the Pro Bowl twice and made first-team All-Pro once.

Surtain has totaled seven interceptions, 36 passes defended and 187 tackles in 50 games with the Broncos. Opposing quarterbacks have a 76.78 passing-efficiency rating when targeting receivers covered by Surtain, the fourth-lowest in the NFL over the past three seasons among cornerbacks who have faced at least 250 passes.

In April, the Broncos picked up their fifth-year option on Surtain’s rookie contract, guaranteeing the cornerback $19.802 million for the 2025 season. The new contract could keep Surtain in Denver through the 2029 season.

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.