Five Broncos players who might be finished in Denver
![DENVER, CO - DECEMBER 22: Shelby Harris #96 of the Denver Broncos lines up on defense during a game against the Detroit Lions at Empower Field on December 22, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) DENVER, CO - DECEMBER 22: Shelby Harris #96 of the Denver Broncos lines up on defense during a game against the Detroit Lions at Empower Field on December 22, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/https-3A-2F-2Fpredominantlyorange-com-2Fwp-content-2Fuploads-2Fgetty-images-2F2016-2F04-2F1195505172-850x560-1deec3a5a44da0424f5203cb363aafc92408360c83360142108cd40987d11570.jpg)
Shelby Harris, defensive line
The Broncos saw Shelby Harris’ potential when it seemed he’d been written off by far too many other teams.
Harris, a seventh-round pick of the Oakland Raiders once upon a time, was an outcast of not only the team that drafted him but also of the Dallas Cowboys and New York Jets before he landed on his feet in Denver.
After a tremendous offseason in 2017, Harris found himself contributing significantly as a rotational player for the Broncos and he blossomed into a possible eight-figure contract player this past season under Vic Fangio.
Harris set a career-high with six sacks and 10 passes batted down, proving himself a disruptive all-around defensive end after things didn’t work out with him playing nose tackle.
To this point, perhaps no player has put the writing on the wall that his time in Denver is likely over quite like Shelby Harris. Although he’s expressed, like every player pretty much does, his desire to return to Denver, he’s also hired a new agent and has talked about how the Broncos missed an opportunity to re-sign him for a lot less than he’s looking for now.
Shelby Harris told @1043TheFan he would have been open to a contract extension with the Broncos before the season ended and it would have been “way cheaper.” pic.twitter.com/Jpz6DHlPCW
— Zac Stevens (@ZacStevensDNVR) February 14, 2020
Now represented by Drew Rosenhaus, it just feels like the Broncos and Harris are headed for a split.
He’s going to be 29 this season, so he understandably wants the most money he can possibly get. This could be his only shot at a big contract, and he’s coming off of a career year. It’s time to secure the bag.
From the Broncos’ perspective, some of Harris’ production came in bunches and it wasn’t until more than a month into the season that he found his fit in the defense. Even then, he was a part-time player to maximize his abilities.
Having Harris back at what he might have commanded a year ago would have been nice, but what he’s asking for now, likely north of $10 million per season?
That is probably going to lead to a mutual parting of ways.