ESPN NFL draft analyst Matt Miller said on Get Up! Thursday morning that he expects Patrick Surtain II to be the first defensive player selected in the 2021 NFL Draft.

"I think it would probably be Patrick Surtain II from Alabama," Miller said. "He's got NFL bloodlines and he's got some very good ones, so I think he is probably the odds-on favorite right now to be the first defender selected."

His father, Patrick Surtain Sr. played 11 seasons in the NFL with the Miami Dolphins and Kansas City Chiefs. He recorded 37 interceptions in his professional career, was selected to the Pro Bowl three times and earned All-Pro honors twice.

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Surtain, a three-year starter at Alabama, started 38 consecutive games for the Crimson Tide. He is widely regarded as the No. 1 CB in this year's draft class. He recorded 23 pass breakups and four interceptions over the past three seasons. Last season, Surtain was a unanimous All-American and selected as the SEC Defensive Player of the Year.

"Pat's got great physical ability. He's got great length," Alabama Crimson Tide head football coach Nick Saban told the SEC Network at the first pro day.. "But he's smart and very, very instinctive. So he always plays faster in the game. Because he is smart, he does a great job of preparing."

Surtain had a very impressive showing at Alabama's first pro day March 23. He measured in at 6-foot-2 and 208 pounds, ran the 40-yard dash in 4.42 seconds, broad jumped 10' 11", vertical jumped 39", and recorded 18 reps of 225lbs on the bench press.

The Carolina Panthers at No. 8 and the Dallas Cowboys at No. 10 are two teams in dire need of an upgrade at the cornerback position.

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