Where does Pat Surtain II stack up vs. his fellow rookies?

As many expected after his two-interception performance Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers, Denver Broncos rookie cornerback Pat Surtain II was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week on Wednesday.

Surtain tallied five tackles and picked off Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert twice in the fourth quarter of the 28-13 victory, taking the second back 70 yards to the house.

According to a team release, Surtain is the first Broncos rookie — and first NFL rookie in six seasons — to record multiple interceptions in the same game. He’s also just the fourth Denver player ever to win conference defensive player of the week honors, joining defensive end Dre’Mont Jones (2019), linebacker Von Miller (2011) and linebacker D.J. Williams (2004).

On Monday, Broncos head coach Vic Fangio said that “no doubt” Surtain had earned his way into the Defensive Rookie of the Year conversation.

“He played really well (Sunday). Obviously, the two interceptions everybody knows about, but he’s (broken) up some passes too that were critical,” Fangio said. “They don’t quite get the same pizzazz that the picks do, but they’re just as critical.

“He’s been playing good football for us all year. We’re thrilled to have him. I don’t want to speak for (general manager George Paton), but I think I am. If we had to redo the draft right now and it was the same players available at No. 9, it’d be the same pick.”

That’s high praise from a defensive guru head coach in Fangio, but where does Surtain stack up against the rest of the rookies in the 2021 class?

Just one rookie on the offensive side of the ball — Cincinnati Bengals wideout Ja’Marr Chase — has earned Player of the Week honors through Week 12 of the NFL season.

However, several different defensive players have been given the award this season, including first-round picks Odafe Oweh from Baltimore, Greg Rousseau from Buffalo and Micah Parsons.

Parsons, who was drafted two spots after Surtain this past April, was projected by many to be the Defensive Rookie of the Year at the beginning of the season, and after 12 weeks remains as ESPN’s top rookie.

According to the latest ESPN rankings, Surtain is third best among NFL rookies, behind Parsons and Patriots quarterback Mac Jones.

Jones, however, ranks above both Surtain and Parsons in the latest Pro Football Focus rookie grades with an 83.9 on the season so far, only behind Chiefs center Creed Humphrey at 90.9.

In fact, Surtain is listed behind several rookie cornerbacks, according to PFF’s grades through Week 12, including Raiders’ fifth-round pick Nate Hobbs (No. 1 at 77.3).

With the Broncos in need of a franchise quarterback, Surtain will likely be judged against the likes of Jones or Bears quarterback Justin Fields — both of which were available to draft at No. 9 — for the remainder of his career.

But for the time being, Denver seems to have found a standout rookie who could turn into a special player for the orange and blue for years to come.