Denver Broncos: Chris Harris and the best cornerbacks in team history
Champ Bailey
This should come as no surprise. Champ Bailey is the best cornerback in team history and he is that by a fairly wide margin.
Bailey was recently elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a first-ballot entry and that was no surprise either. Champ was that good.
The Broncos obtained Bailey in a trade with the Washington Redskins. The Broncos also received a second-round pick in that deal while sending Clinton Portis to Washington.
Looking back on it with the benefit of hindsight being 20/20, the fact that the Broncos got Bailey AND a second-round pick for Portis is incredible. Sure, Portis had been a solid running back, but the Broncos received one of the best cornerbacks in the history of the league.
If you were to grade this trade now, the Broncos received the better end of it by a country mile.
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In 10 seasons with the Broncos, Bailey was all that the team ever hoped he would be. Much like Wright, opposing quarterbacks just did not look his way. Still, Bailey finished his career with 52 interceptions. He also had an eye-popping 203 pass deflections.
In Denver, he was selected to eight Pro Bowls and he was named First-Team All-Pro in three consecutive seasons from 2004-06.
Champ was a complete cornerback, always ready and able to make a tackle. That was what separated him from many of the league’s top cornerbacks. He would put his helmet down and lay into a ball carrier. He finished his career with 908 tackles.
Champ had a rare combination of supreme athleticism, football smarts and desire to be the best. They just don’t make them like this guy very often.