Chris Harris contract situation reportedly nearing a resolution

The Denver Broncos and cornerback Chris Harris Jr. are reportedly closing in on a revised contract for the 2019 season.

The Denver Broncos and cornerback Chris Harris Jr. are reportedly closing in on a revised contract for the 2019 season, according to 9News’ Mike Klis.

For this year, that tweet presents great news. What it means is that for the 2019 season, Chris Harris Jr. will be a member of the Denver Broncos.

The dark cloud lingering over this possible new resolution is Harris’ future with the team beyond this season.

Broncos Country already saw the team trade away a future Ring of Fame receiver in Demaryius Thomas. John Elway has been somewhat ruthless when it comes to players who have a lot of sentimental value with the fans, but that’s the way things go in the NFL.

Last year he traded away Aqib Talib. He wasn’t going to do that with Harris this year despite the fact that Harris would have probably gotten the Broncos much more on the trade market than the fifth-round pick the Broncos recouped for Talib.

Elway must want to push long-term contract negotiations back another offseason. The Broncos have all the leverage here. Harris could sit out games, but sitting out games would mean missing out on paychecks for him, and that’s the opposite of what he’s trying to do.

There is no way Harris would sit out games at this juncture, and the Broncos have to know that. They also have to know that they could simply bring Harris back at his current cap figure and just make him play for that amount of money, but the fact that they are giving him a raise is unprecedented in Elway’s tenure as general manager.

Other guys have gotten new contracts, but I cannot think of another player who simply got a raise for one year after threatening to hold out.

Perhaps this show of good faith will be the edge the Broncos need in negotiating a new deal with Harris at the end of the 2019 season.

But Sayre, everyone is saying Harris will just walk after 2019. Isn’t that the most likely outcome here?

Perhaps. It’s possible that Harris would walk to unrestricted free agency in 2020 when he is 30 going on 31, but it’s also possible that the Broncos franchise tag him, which makes Harris’ decision to agree to a pay raise for this year even more confusing.

Let’s say Harris plays at an All-Pro level again this season, and let’s say he doesn’t suffer any injuries. Let’s also say he’s a key reason the Broncos make the playoffs for the first time since 2015.

Why would the Broncos not franchise tag him?

They could simply take Joe Flacco’s contract off the books and free up over $20 million next offseason, so cap flexibility is not an issue here. The Broncos have a number of other players to re-sign, but if Harris is playing that well, the Broncos would probably gladly pay him the franchise tag amount, meaning Harris would once again be missing out on the guaranteed money he seeks as a free agent.

It’s also a possibility the Broncos would let Harris walk and try to recoup a third-round pick in the 2021 (Trevor Lawrence) draft. You can never have too much draft capital, right?

Everyone wants Harris to remain a Bronco for the rest of his career. Harris has even said his preference is to stay in Denver, but he also wants the money to go along with it.

There’s nothing wrong with that.

The Broncos will apparently give him what he wants for this year, then re-approach an extension after the season, or Harris could be given the non-exclusive franchise tag at which point the Broncos would receive a first-round pick if he signs elsewhere.