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Chris Harris Jr. contract report seems horrible for the Broncos

By Sayre Bedinger

DENVER, CO - NOVEMBER 27: Cornerback Chris Harris #25 of the Denver Broncos celebrates after a play in the first quarter of the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on November 27, 2016 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - NOVEMBER 27: Cornerback Chris Harris #25 of the Denver Broncos celebrates after a play in the first quarter of the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on November 27, 2016 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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If the Denver Broncos are progressing towards a resolution with Chris Harris Jr.’s contract situation, it’s not a great one for the team.

The Denver Broncos and star cornerback Chris Harris Jr. are seemingly progressing towards a contract resolution, and it’s unfortunate just how unexciting that news is.

According to multiple reports, the Broncos’ people and Harris’ people got together after the draft — as was planned long ago — to talk dollars and cents.

Mike Klis of 9News in Denver had this update as of Wednesday:

What the Broncos and Harris appear poised to eventually agree upon is an increase in Harris’ overall pay for the 2019 season.

Harris is currently set to count just over $8.76 million against the Broncos’ cap. He wants to be paid an average of $15 million per season.

He’s held out of voluntary OTAs up to this point as the Broncos and new head coach Vic Fangio implement their new system.

This isn’t a huge deal — yet. Harris is a veteran player and will be able to teach the defense whenever he dives into the playbook (assuming he hasn’t already). He’s just that kind of a player and cares that much about excellence.

The huge deal here is the fact that any adjustment on Harris’ 2019 salary still doesn’t keep him in orange and blue beyond this year.

I’m going to give us all a look at the pros and cons of this specific possibility (increasing Harris’ pay for 2019):

Pros

  • Chris Harris is a Bronco in 2019

Cons

  • Harris is not a Bronco beyond 2019
  • Harris uses his impending departure as a reason to ‘check out’ when he wants
  • Broncos lose roughly $7-8 million in cap space
  • Harder to trade Harris if his cap number is increased

You have to wonder what the Broncos’ motivation with giving Harris simply a massive raise in 2019 is going to accomplish.

Sure, Harris will be on the team, but let’s just say for a moment that the Broncos don’t win the Super Bowl as a result, and bringing back Harris was all for not. Do you attempt to re-sign him at the end of the season?

If Harris is unwilling to sign with the Broncos with free agency looming, do you franchise tag him and open up this whole can of worms again next offseason?

As much as I love the idea of Harris returning to the Broncos, I hate the idea that he will be with the team for this season, unhappy, and simply leave the first chance he gets.

The Broncos aren’t hiring a plumber to come and fix a toilet, do his job, and move on to the next job, they are building and establishing a new culture for the team and having Harris around for one year feels more like the plumber thing.

Not to mention, it would be the most expensive quick fix Elway will have ever permitted.

If Harris doesn’t want to be with the Broncos and if the Broncos don’t want to sign him to a long-term extension, why not just trade him and go get a veteran like Morris Claiborne to plug your hole?

I understand Harris is the far superior player, but get someone who doesn’t have one foot out the door and is willing to play for less than $15 million.

Neither party is without blame in this whole situation, which could have simply been resolved with patience on both sides.

Harris picked the worst time — right before the NFL Draft — to give the Broncos an ultimatum. The Broncos (John Elway) didn’t help the situation by saying talking after the draft didn’t necessarily mean anything would get done.

Given Elway’s stance before the draft, it seems even more head-scratching that the team would simply use the majority of its remaining cap space to further limit the team’s emergency funds and give Harris just under double what he’s due this year so he will come back for 16 games.

I think what this really boils down to is there’s no long-term focus here. Harris will get paid as a free agent as long as he’s healthy after the 2019 season. The Broncos might get a third-round compensatory pick in the 2021 NFL Draft if that’s the case.

Excuse me while I break out the sparkling cider.

Harris was John Elway’s first big undrafted free agent find. He’s Elway’s Rod Smith as a general manager if you will.

How could the Broncos not make this guy a member of the team for life? Go down on the Chris Harris ship.

And for Harris, it’s hard to say he’s in the wrong here, but the timing isn’t the best. Harris could have played out his contract and gone about his business. But it’s understandable he would want to cash in now, just before he turns 30, so he knows he’s well taken care of in the final years of his NFL career.

It’s also hard to fault the Broncos, though, for not wanting to pay an almost-30-year-old cornerback $15 million per season.

Hence, where we are today.

Will I be excited to watch 2019 unfold with Harris in the mix? Absolutely. Will I shake my head when he leaves for some other team in 2020 knowing they could have gotten something done.

You better believe it.

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