Analyzing the impact of Chris Harris Jr.’s official return
The Denver Broncos could have traded Chris Harris Jr. in the 2019 NFL Draft, but he will return on a renewed contract for 2019. What’s the impact?
The Denver Broncos found a way to make Chris Harris Jr. happy for the 2019 season, making him the fourth-highest paid cornerback in the NFL and the highest paid defensive back on the team (above free agent pickup Kareem Jackson).
Harris’ return has so many different levels of impact, not just on the field but obviously off the field as well.
The first level of impact we need to look at with Harris coming back on a renewed one-year, $12.05 million deal?
On the field
The Broncos’ defense is unquestionably better with Harris in the fold. He is a top three cornerback in the NFL if I’m taking off my orange glasses and he’s the best cornerback in the NFL if someone tries to argue with me about it.
Harris’ presence allows the Broncos to mix and match things in the defensive backfield the way they want to.
Veteran free agent Kareem Jackson was signed with the belief he would play cornerback, but the Broncos have had him working mostly at safety throughout OTAs.
The reason being? They have three really good cornerbacks and a number of nickel/dime options at the corner and safety positions.
It’s highly possible the Broncos feel their best defensive backfield combination of five guys involves Harris and Isaac Yiadom on the outside with Bryce Callahan in the nickel and Kareem Jackson and Justin Simmons roaming the safety position.
Callahan has worked some on the outside, and in that case, if he’s playing on the outside the Broncos can use Will Parks as a matchup nickel player.
Harris’ absence would have had the Broncos scrambling at corner in a way, especially if they were hellbent on using Jackson at safety.
Now, they can do pretty much whatever they want with the luxury of depth.
We all know Harris is a beast. You don’t need a scouting report, but at this point in his career, Harris is essentially an elite player and an elite coach. He knows his assignment and everyone else’s.
He’s so rarely out of place if at all, and the communication aspect he brings to the table is so critical.
Now…
Off the field
This is one of the weirdest contract negotiations I’ve ever seen.
Harris pulled rank in this whole situation, and it’s a shock he wasn’t traded based on Elway’s history with ultimatums and making players in their later years take pay cuts.
Harris is a unique situation for the Broncos and just about anyone. He is getting a pay raise when the Broncos could have dared him to sit out games and forfeit checks on his $8.9 million salary this year.
John Elway didn’t do that.
When it was apparent the two sides were far apart on long-term negotiations — and Chris Harris undoubtedly wants to be the highest paid cornerback in the NFL — the Broncos were extremely generous by basically giving Harris $3.15 million as a sign of good faith.
Harris took a deal that was below market in 2014 because he knew he could win in Denver, but he could have cashed in at that point in time as well.
He didn’t have to take that deal, but he did.
He did the Broncos a solid, but there was nothing written that said the Broncos had to reciprocate at some point down the line.
They did anyway.
Harris getting this money is an incredible show of faith by Elway and company, as the star corner seems set on hitting free agency next offseason even though the Broncos have the option of the franchise tag available.
The franchise tag this year was worth close to $16 million. Considering the amount the Broncos are paying Harris this season, that $16 million would essentially take this to a two-year deal worth about $28 million, still a good value for two years of a player Harris’ caliber.
Or will the Broncos give Harris an even more generous gift and allow him to hit free agency scot-free?
Depending what the Broncos do in unrestricted free agency next offseason, that decision could net them a 2021 compensatory pick, which would likely be a pick in the 90s or early 100s in exchange for one of the best cornerbacks to ever don the orange and blue.
The Broncos have left the door open for a long-term extension. Harris’ terms are clear.
The Broncos aren’t giving Harris the extension this offseason, but the two sides might get something done. The fact that Denver is giving Harris more than $3 million should give them some favor come time for next offseason.
I have talked a lot about how much I hate this deal for the Broncos, and if it ultimately ends with Harris playing for another team beyond this season, I will hate it even more.
Right now, Broncos Country basically has to block out the future and hope Harris gets a long-term deal from the Broncos.
Next. Second year NFL players ready to contribute. dark
Everyone wants Harris to retire a Bronco. Hopefully, he does too.