Miami Dolphins At 50: Top 10 DBs
By Dan Heaning
Mandatory Credit: Miami Dolphins.com
No. 8 – William Judson
William Judson joined the Miami Dolphins in 1982 after being selected 208th overall in the 1981 NFL Draft’s eighth round.
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Judson is tied for sixth on the all-time franchise interceptions list with Louis Oliver and Terrell Buckley. However, Judson played in more games than either of those two and is eighth in career game played among defensive backs in Dolphins history.
Of his 115 appearances, Judson started in 106 games making him the eighth longest tenured defensive back in Dolphins history.
He rotated between left and right cornerback from 1983 to 1987 before settling at the right side for the last few seasons of his career.
Judson has 24 career interceptions, 14 of which came in his first three seasons as a starter. He also tacked on about 408 tackles and picked off Pittsburgh quarterback Mark Malone in the 1984 AFC Championship game en route to a 45-28 victory.
Mandatory Credit: Miami Dolphins.com
No. 7 – Patrick Surtain
Patrick Surtain didn’t jump right into the line-up like some of the corners and safeties on this list. He started off as a special teams player in his rookie campaign then started six games in his sophomore season.
In his third season as a Dolphin, Surtain became a starter and would work alongside Sam Madison for the rest of his time with the team.
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As Madison’s numbers started to decline that’s when Patrick Surtain’s started to increase. Surtain put together a six and seven interception seasons in 2002 and 2003 as the Dolphins failed to make the playoffs in either season.
Drafted in the second round of the 1998 NFL Draft, Surtain was selected with the same overall pick as his cornerback compadre Madison, who was drafted one season earlier.
Surtain had 29 interceptions in the aqua and orange with 341 tackles (256 solo tackles and 85 assists).
Surtain put together six and seven interception seasons in 2002 and 2003 respectively. Those totals helped him to earn Pro Bowl honors in both seasons and 2004. He was named to the All-Pro First Team in 2002.
Surtain would end his career as a Kansas City Chief, after four seasons with KC, when the Dolphins dealt him in 2005. Ending his seven year tenure and possibly one of the best corner duos in team history.