By the Numbers: Pro Football Focus stats for each of the Broncos' 2021 draft picks

Cornerback Pat Surtain II (pick No. 9) brings a combination of tremendous skill, experience playing against some of college football's best talent and great production that made him one arguably the top defensive player in the 2021 NFL Draft.

"There's not a more technically advanced and consistent cornerback in the draft class," PFF wrote.

A physical player, Surtain isn't afraid to make tackles in the run game when he's not providing lockdown coverage against the pass. His 83.4 PFF run defense grade is among the best at his position with at least defensive 350 snaps.

Through his time at Alabama, Surtain was a shutdown cornerback who rarely found himself on the wrong end of any play. More often than not, when opposing quarterbacks targeted him, their passes hit the ground.

"Over the past two years, no one got the better of him for a full game," PFF wrote. "He didn't allow more than 65 yards in a single game over that span despite obviously facing some of the best offenses in college football."

Surtain played in every game of his collegiate career and started 38 games, a remarkable accomplishment considering the talent that Alabama consistently rotates through as an NCAA powerhouse.

"Technician with NFL-ready consistency," PFF wrote. "Picks up on the little tells from opposing WRs."

Through his time with the Crimson Tide, Surtain was able to hone his skills with more defensive coverage snaps than any other player in the country during that time, PFF says. That consistency and production helped make him one of the best NFL prospects at his position.

Pro Football Focus' top-rated running back in the 2021 class also had their top-graded 2020 season by a running back. Forming half of UNC's evenly split rushing tandem, Javonte Williams (pick No. 35) was a dangerous back who's not afraid of contact. His 94.3 overall grade included an even higher rushing grade. "His 95.9 rushing grade was also far and away the highest we've seen in a single season," PFF wrote.

With 75 broken tackles on 182 total touches, Williams was clearly hard to bring down. A former high-school linebacker, he brings an intriguing combination of power, balance and quickness. "Ridiculously good balance," PFF wrote. "Stays on his feet after some big hits."

"Runs hard as can be," PFF wrote. "Chooses violence." Given that style and his skills meant that the first defender to get hands on him couldn't bring him down almost half the time — and he added nearly five yards per carry after that point.

Though PFF notes that their grade for Quinn Meinerz (pick No. 98) may not be very meaningful because of the competition he faced in Division III, his play still was strong enough to make him a great prospect. That ability was reinforced when Meinerz worked out in the 2020 Senior Bowl. "His ability to drive off the line of scrimmage with leverage and explosiveness was the most impressive of any offensive lineman in attendance," PFF wrote of Meinerz's performance.

Even though the 2020 season was canceled for Meinerz's Wisconsin-Whitewater Warhawks and the rest of Division III colleges, he stayed in tremendous shape for the Senior Bowl and his pro day work. His 40-yard dash time of 4.86 seconds is among the fastest in recent memory by players at his position. "Straight-line explosiveness is elite," PFF wrote. "Can move grown men."

With great physical traits, Baron Browning (pick No. 105) has tremendous potential at the next level. He recorded six sacks over his final two seasons and forced two fumbles as a senior. "Wrecking ball as a tackler," PFF wrote. "Don't want to see him coming downhill."

Browning will begin his career cross-training at inside linebacker, Head Coach Vic Fangio said after the team drafted the Ohio State product. In comparing his skill set to that of first-round pick Micah Parsons, PFF wrote that Browning's development will depend on Browning's growth in understanding the game. "Elite size-speed combination for the position," PFF wrote. "How you'd put together a linebacker."

After an outstanding freshman season in 2018, Caden Sterns (pick No. 152) has not been able to find the same level of production in the years since. Still, he has some intriguing talent that could translate at the next level. "Ideal size for the position that shows at catch point," PFF wrote.

"Solid range for a deep safety," PFF wrote about Sterns. "At his best tracking the ball in the air."

Safety Jamar Johnson (pick No. 164) drew attention this season as Indiana became a Big Ten contender in 2020, and no game was more important for Johnson's draft stock than his performance against Ohio State and first-round pick Justin Fields. "Graceful athlete with great hips," PFF wrote. "Ridiculous hip flip to pick off Justin Fields in 2020."

Johnson has been a versatile safety, but he's been at his best in pass coverage. "He attacks the ball in the air differently from most defensive backs and showed legit body control on those picks," PFF wrote. "While he still needs to improve as a tackler, what Johnson can do in coverage is special."

With their first seventh-round pick, the Broncos selected a talented receiver out of Auburn in Seth Williams (pick No. 219). Williams was hard to cover man-to-man and was able to create separation as he slimmed down for his final season. "Gifted leaper with some absurd catches on tape," PFF wrote. "Special highlight reel."

Among other receivers with at least 40 targets, Williams was fifth in the country in forcing missed tackles, according to PFF. "Defensive backs bounce off him," PFF wrote. "Generates YAC on catches that shouldn't."

Before opting out of the 2020 season due to COVID-19 concerns, Kary Vincent Jr. (pick No. 237) was a formidable nickel cornerback. "He's a very reliable slot, though, and you won't find him getting drawn out of position with his eyes in the backfield," PFF wrote.

A second-team All-American selection by the American Football Coaches Association, Jonathon Cooper (pick No. 253) was a productive pass rusher as a senior with an array of moves. "Refined pass-rushing toolbox," Pro Football Focus wrote in their draft guide. "A number of moves already he can throw your way."

During his junior season at Mississippi State, Marquiss Spencer (pick No. 239) logged an impressive season as a pass rusher with 27 total pressures, including two sacks, eight quarterback hits and 17 hurries, according to PFF.