Whoâs the best NFL defensive back from Alabama?

Denver Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II was asked during a recent appearance on FanDuel TV’s “Up and Adams” if he was “Surtain” that he was the best former Alabama defensive back in the NFL.

Surtain said he was “Surtain,” but he qualified it a little bit.

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“There’s so many great Alabama DBs across the league,” Surtain said. “They’re doing what they’re doing respectively on their side of the ball. You know, it just keeps on going from Alabama. It’s like a train. It’s like a cycle. Just keep on producing DBs in the league, and I can’t wait to see what we got this year.”

In his second NFL season, Surtain earned Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro recognition at cornerback during 2022.

Pittsburgh Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, like Surtain an All-American at Alabama, also earned Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro recognition during 2022.

Two other former Crimson Tide cornerbacks – Trevon Diggs of the Dallas Cowboys and Marlon Humphrey of the Baltimore Ravens – were Pro Bowlers in 2022, too.

Twelve other former Alabama defensive backs played in the NFL during the 2022 season:

· Cornerback Jalyn Armour-Davis of the Baltimore Ravens

· Cornerback Anthony Averett of the Las Vegas Raiders

· Cornerback Tony Brown of the Indianapolis Colts

· Safety Landon Collins of the New York Giants

· Safey Ronnie Harrison of the Cleveland Browns

· Safety Eddie Jackson of the Chicago Bears

· Safety Kareem Jackson of the Denver Broncos

· Cornerback Josh Jobe of the Philadelphia Eagles

· Safety Xavier McKinney of the New York Giants

· Cornerback Aaron Robinson of the New York Giants

· Safety Deionte Thompson of the Arizona Cardinals

· Cornerback Levi Wallace of the Pittsburgh Steelers

Three more Alabama defensive backs entered the NFL in last month’s draft. The Detroit Lions picked Brian Branch in the second round, the Cincinnati Bengals picked Jordan Battle in the third round and the Atlanta Falcons picked DeMarcco Hellams in the seventh round.

Twelve consecutive NFL drafts have included at least one Alabama defensive back. That’s the longest current draft streak for one position from one school in the SEC.

Three quarterbacks who played with Surtain at Alabama are starters in the NFL – Jalen Hurts with the Philadelphia Eagles, Mac Jones with the New England Patriots and Tua Tagovailoa with the Miami Dolphins.

Surtain played against Hurts during the 2021 season and will face Jones and Tagovailoa during 2023. The Broncos visit Miami on Sept. 24 and host New England in a Christmas Eve prime-time game.

Surtain is from Plantation, Florida, and is looking forward to playing back home in the third week of the season.

“I’m looking forward to facing Tua because it’s back at home where I’m from, playing Miami at Dolphins field,” Surtain said. “I’m looking forward to that game. It should be fun, just going back home playing in front of my family, in front of my hometown. I’m very excited for it.”

The Broncos lost to Hurts and the Eagles 30-13 on Nov. 14, 2021, and has gone 12-22 in Surtain’s two seasons. Denver is looking for better things in 2023 after hiring Sean Payton as head coach. With the New Orleans Saints, Payton compiled a 152-89 regular-season record and won Super Bowl XLVI to cap the 2009 season.

“He’s going to help me a lot,” Surtain said. “I can just tell the focus level he has on the team right now. He’s very locked in. He’s knows what we’re capable of as a team. We got young talent on the team. I think we’re a complete roster on both sides of the ball, so I’m looking forward to that. And also he just knows what it takes to win on the biggest stages in his past before. His resume speaks for itself, so I’m looking forward to going on the field with Sean and winning some ball games.”

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