Broncos got 99 problems, but cornerback Pat Surtain II ain’t one

Kiz, you speak the truth when declaring the Broncos have no quarterback, no draft capital, no salary-cap flexibility and no real hope. Please allow me to deliver the punch line: The Broncos should leverage the perceived value of  cornerback Pat Surtain II and trade him to Da Bears. Tomorrow. Throw in receivers Jerry Jeudy, Courtland Sutton, and go get the No. 1 pick in the draft. Yup, Surtain is a good pass defender, until the “D” really needs a stop. But in my honest opinion, he’s overrated, as soft as his mother’s feet.

— Dave, perky dude

Kiz: Easy there, big fella. While my outlook for the this team is far from rosy, let me also say: The Broncos got 99 problems and Surtain ain’t one. Not only is he the best player on the team, Surtain is the only guy in the Denver locker room walking a clear path to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. As much as I value Surtain, however, I seriously doubt the Broncos could pry the No. 1 overall pick from Chicago with an offer of Surtain, Sutton, their own first-rounder and an all-you-can-eat feast from Casa Bonita. So I’m afraid you will have to stop dreaming about USC quarterback Caleb Williams wearing orange and blue. But could I interest you in a deal for the Bears’ current quarterback, Justin Fields? That’s a whole different discussion, at a price point that wouldn’t involve Surtain.

The Donks are now in football purgatory. They’re a bad team, but not quite bad enough to get a top five pick in the draft in order to get a franchise quarterback. I see nothing that will change this predicament any time soon. The current general manager, George Paton, is clueless. For that reason, the Donks will stay bad for years to come. They have turned into Colorado Rockies not good.

— Peter, Denver

Kiz: Who will return to the playoffs first? The Broncos? Or the Rockies? No need to answer. It’s a rhetorical question, because I fear the truth might be too sad to contemplate.

Hey, Kiz. Please forward my resume as a head coaching candidate to the Broncos front office. My latest job: bum. Location: on the street. Salary requirements: $18 million per year. (If hired, I will happily remit to you the standard 15% agent fee.)

J.G., football mastermind

Kiz: Yes, I endorsed Sean Payton to be coach of the Broncos, even before Nathaniel Hackett was fired. So blame me.

Please stay on Payton’s butt. Keep up the great, incisive, mordant and insightful writing! I so look forward to reading your columns, Kiz!

Fred, wordsmith