Patrick Surtain II is voted the NFL's top cornerback by AP panel for the second straight year

Patrick Surtain II has built an impressive resume in just five seasons.

The Denver Broncos defensive back has made four Pro Bowls, been first-team All-Pro twice, second-team once and was only the seventh cornerback to win AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year, earning the award after the 2024 season.

Surtain now has been voted the top NFL cornerback for the second straight year by The Associated Press in a preseason survey.

Surtain received seven first-place votes from a panel of eight AP pro football writers who ranked the top five players at the position, basing selections on current status entering the 2026 season. First-place votes were worth 10 points. Second- through fifth-place votes were worth 5, 3, 2 and 1 points.

Derek Stingley Jr. got the other first-place vote and finished second. Quinyon Mitchell and Devon Witherspoon tied for third, and Trent McDuffie and Sauce Gardner tied for fifth.

Surtain has become an elite player at a premier position. He allowed 31 receptions and a 66.5 passer rating when targeted by opposing quarterbacks in 2025.

Surtain had one interception, mainly because teams don’t throw his direction. He missed three games with a pec strain but returned in the playoffs to help the Broncos reach the AFC championship game.

Stingley earned All-Pro for the second straight season, and has developed into one of the league’s best cover cornerbacks for Houston’s stingy defense.

He had four interceptions, allowed 34 receptions in coverage and broke up nine passes in coverage last season. Opposing quarterbacks had just a 67.4 passer rating against him.

Stingley was selected one spot ahead of Sauce Gardner at No. 3 overall in the 2022 draft.

He got five second-place votes and appeared on seven ballots.

Mitchell earned All-Pro honors in just his second season in the NFL.

He gave up 36 catches in coverage, broke up seven passes and QBs had just a 58.4 passer rating against him. Mitchell doesn’t have an interception in the regular season but he’s snagged four picks in five playoff games for the Eagles.

Mitchell appeared on six ballots.

Witherspoon made his third Pro Bowl in three seasons, earned second-team All-Pro honors and helped Seattle win the Super Bowl.

He surrendered 46 receptions in coverage and QBs had a 99.8 passer rating against him. Witherspoon appeared on four ballots.

McDuffie has been one of the league’s best slot cornerbacks in his first four seasons in Kansas City, helping the Chiefs win two Super Bowls and play in another one.

McDuffie was a first-team All-Pro slot cornerback in 2023 and a second-team choice in 2024. The Rams acquired him for a package of draft picks, including No. 29 overall in this April's draft.

He allowed 37 passes in coverage, broke up four and had one pick. He allowed a 94.7 passer rating when targeted.

McDuffie appeared on three ballots.

The two-time All-Pro was traded from the Jets to the Colts in a blockbuster deal for two first-round picks midway through last season but played in only four games for his new team because of a calf injury.

Gardner received three votes.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

FILE - Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr., left, is unable to catch a pass as Indianapolis Colts cornerback Sauce Gardner (1) defends during the first half of an NFL football game, Dec. 28, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)

FILE - Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers (4) is tackled after a catch by Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie (22) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sept. 28, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann, File)

FILE - Seattle Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21) plays defense against the New England Patriots during the NFL Super Bowl 60 football game, Feb. 8, 2026, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Doug Benc, File)

FILE - Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Quinyon Mitchell, right, leaps to intercept the ball intended for San Francisco 49ers tight end Jake Tonges during an NFL wild-card playoff football game, Jan. 11, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola, File)

FILE - Houston Texans cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. catches a pass during an NFL minicamp football practice June 9, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip, File)

FILE - Denver Broncos' Patrick Surtain II, AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year, poses after winning the award at the NFL Honors award show ahead of the Super Bowl 59 football game Feb. 6, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Matt York, File)

Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez was sent off for collecting two yellow cards in a four-minute span in a 2-0 loss at Chelsea in the Premier League on Saturday, thrusting the Argentina international back in the spotlight again for the wrong reasons.

Two weeks ago, Martinez gave a post-match interview calling out United’s hierarchy and questioning the club’s offseason recruitment.

His latest misstep came on the field.

Soon after being yellow-carded for pulling the jersey of Morgan Rogers, Martinez jumped with a raised elbow toward Wesley Fofana at a corner and struck the Chelsea defender in the face.

After a video review, the referee awarded a second yellow card to Martinez in the 63rd minute and he trudged off the field and down the tunnel — with Carrick not even acknowledging the player.

Cole Palmer converted the resulting penalty for Chelsea's second goal.

Martinez, who continues to be picked by Carrick despite his recent outburst, was at least partially to blame for the first goal, scored by Morgan Rogers in the 50th minute, after failing to come across and make a challenge on the England midfielder as he surged into the penalty area.

See AP’s full soccer coverage here

Referee Peter Bankes shows a red card to Manchester United's Lisandro Martinez (6) during the English Premier League soccer match between Chelsea and Manchester United in London, Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Ian Walton)

Chelsea's Pedro Neto, right, challenges for the ball with Manchester United's Lisandro Martinez during the English Premier League soccer match between Chelsea and Manchester United in London, Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Ian Walton)

Manchester United's Lisandro Martinez, right, and Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes pause during a warm up ahgead of the start of the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Bournemouth in Manchester, England, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)