After nine shutdown seasons and a Super Bowl title, Chris Harris Jr. is trading in his Orange and Blue for the powder blue and yellow.
The three-time All-Pro signed a has reportedly agreed to sign with the Los Angeles Chargers.
Harris should make major impact immediately on a defense that is already loaded with star talent.
Harris, despite being criminally underrated around the NFL for his entire career, was selected to the the Pro Bowl four times and earned first-team All-Pro honors in 2018 and second-team All-Pro honors in 2014 and 2015 with the Broncos. The shutdown corner hinted that he was ready to move on from Denver on Monday, February 17 during an interview with The Athletic’s Nicki Jhabvala on Sports Radio 104.3 The Fan in Denver.
“I think everybody deserves to see what they’re worth, and I deserve it at this point. I think I worked my tail off for nine years, I gave the city every ounce of effort that I could give and, shoot, it’s time to see what everybody else thinks about me,” Harris said.
Last season Harris participated in 99% of all defensive snaps. He allowed 7.31 yards per completion in 2019, compared to the 4.97 yards he allowed the previous year. Harris shouldered a larger role in the Broncos’ pass coverage in 2019, moving away from his traditional slot cornerback position to more of an outside role where he followed opposing No. 1 wide receivers all over the field due to the lack of depth in Denver’s secondary.
Denver is now forced to rebuild their secondary (specifically the cornerback position) as the final player from the Super Bowl winning “No-Fly-Zone” has finally departed from the team.
Elway and the Broncos added nearly $3 million dollars to the Harris’ contract during his offseason hold out in 2019. It was expected Harris would depart from the team as he was not offered a multi-year extension along with the payout.
“The whole thing — I was put in a situation with a team that, I didn’t know if they wanted a future with me. You see what I’m saying? So you’re playing ball, but you don’t know if the team really wants you or if I’m going to be traded. Do I have a future with this team?”
Harris was nearly dealt at the 2019 deadline, but Elway and Co. were unable to find adequate compensation for the future Ring of Famer.
9News Denver’s Mike Klis also reported that the Broncos were close to a deal that would have sent Harris to the Detroit Lions in exchange for Darius Slay.
Currently Von Miller, Todd Davis, Brandon McManus and Derek Wolfe are the only players that will suit up in 2020 from the Super Bowl 50 team.
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