Denver Broncos: Shelby Harris, others who deserve contract extensions

1. Shelby Harris, DL

Pretty much throughout the entire 2020 offseason, Broncos Country had said their goodbyes to Shelby Harris.

Since 2017, Harris has been a tremendous value to the Denver Broncos, racking up sacks, TFLs, batted passes, blocked kicks — you name it — for a very team-friendly price.

After the 2019 season, he went into unrestricted free agency with surprisingly very little interest from outside teams. The Broncos came in with an offer of one-year, $3 million, and somehow got Harris back into the fold.

He was certainly worth at least three times that amount on the open market, but no team signed him to a long-term (or short-term) deal.

The Broncos are now in a position where Harris has become a focal point of the defensive line, and a playmaker whose contributions are unequaled anywhere else on the roster.

In five games this season, he’s already got eight pressures, seven QB hits, 2.5 sacks, and a variety of batted passes yet again, including one that hung in the air long enough for DeShawn Williams to pick it off.

https://twitter.com/Broncos/status/1318020545057673216

Harris has been fantastic in just over one season with Vic Fangio as his defensive coordinator, and the fit in Denver for him is obviously tremendous. The Broncos should try to get Harris at least a three-year extension, similar to what they gave to Mike Purcell.

The value is going to be tougher to gauge, but Harris deserves a substantial raise and stability with the Broncos.