Broncos free agency: Tracking every move in George Paton’s first year

2. Shelby Harris re-signed for three years

Speaking of doing everything right, Shelby Harris is one of the best stories in recent Denver Broncos history, isn’t he?

Harris came to the Broncos as a reserve/futures player after floating around between a couple of other teams as a former seventh-round draft pick of the Raiders.

The first big contract George Paton handed out as GM of the Broncos was a three-year, $27 million deal for Harris, a 29-year old defensive lineman who has become a fan-favorite in Denver and also a favorite of head coach Vic Fangio.

Harris, known for having the “best hands on the team“, has been tremendous since getting his first real shot at playing time under head coach Vance Joseph back in the 2017 season.

After playing two years on a very team-friendly contract, Harris played one season on a restricted free agent tender, then came back to the Broncos in 2020 for just over $3 million when it was projected he could get at least $10 million on the open market.

It is no wonder Harris was emotional when he met the media after getting a $27 million payday from the Broncos.

It’s huge to have Harris in the fold. He’s tremendous on the field, but he’s equally important for the Denver Broncos in the locker room and off the field.

Once again, Harris is an example of a guy who has done everything right and has now been rewarded for it.