What it means for his future with the Broncos is unclear, but cornerback Chris Harris’ present was solidified Tuesday when he agreed to a reworked 2019 contract, according to a league source.
Harris had boycotted all of the Broncos’ voluntary offseason program because of the contract dispute and hoped to sign a multiyear deal averaging $15 million per season. Uninterested in that financial commitment, general manager John Elway connected with Fred Lyles, Harris’ agent, over the past two weeks to increase Harris’ salary this year from $8.7 million to $12.05 million.
Harris’ previous salary cap number of $8.7 million was 25th-highest among NFL cornerbacks. Albeit on a one-year deal, he now ranks 11th.
“We have a lot of respect for Chris as a player and for everything he’s meant to our organization,” Elway said in a statement after the Broncos announced the agreement. “This contract adjustment recognizes his value to our team and the high expectations we have for Chris as a Bronco this season and hopefully for years to come.”
Harris is expected to be in attendance Wednesday for the Broncos’ organized team activity workout.
According to a source, the sides did have talks about an extension to potentially keep Harris, 30, with the Broncos for the rest of his career. But the gulf between the Broncos and Harris’ camp was too wide, and the sides regrouped to discuss a raise to his current deal, which expires after the season.
Harris is scheduled to become a free agent in March for the first time in his career.
The Broncos-Harris agreement comes seven weeks to the day after Harris told the team he would like to be traded if a long-term deal wasn’t offered to him.
From the Broncos’ perspective, the Harris raise serves as a salute to a productive player (19 career interceptions), a semi-peace offering to future contract talks (if there are any), the elimination of a distraction (Harris will report to training camp next month with the rest of the team) and the ability to now keep Kareem Jackson at safety (keeping Harris as the No. 1 cornerback).
From Harris’ perspective, he is now playing at a salary in line with the league’s other top cornerbacks, he will not risk fines by skipping next week’s mandatory minicamp, and he will hit the open market in March 2020 with the chance to sign a final big-money deal.
Harris signed a five-year, $42.5 million extension in December 2014 that was perceived as below market value. But as an undrafted free agent, Harris and his camp felt the deal was fair.
Last month, Harris said he didn’t regret signing the contract but admitted he thought the Broncos would eventually tear it up and give him a more lucrative deal. On Tuesday, they didn’t tear it up, but they did add significant money to it.
Undrafted out of Kansas, Harris signed with the Broncos after the 2011 lockout. He not only made the roster, he became a starter in 2012.
From 2012-18, Harris had at least two interceptions in every season and will start this year with 19 in 123 games (105 starts).
A four-time Pro Bowl selection (2014-16 and 2018) and an all-pro in 2015 (second team) and 2016 (first team), Harris is regarded as one of the top slot coverage players in the NFL, capable of checking the league’s top receivers regardless of where they line up.
Harris believed his production warranted a contract extension. Instead, during the offseason, he saw the Broncos sign Jackson to a three-year, $33 million deal and slot cover man Bryce Callahan to three-year, $21 million contract.
Although aware that Elway was not going to engage in any contract talks until after the late April draft, Harris opted to stay away from the voluntary program that started April 2. Harris’ pay-me-or-trade-me demand was two nights before the draft, which came and went without the Broncos dealing him or bowing down to his contract demands.
Last year, Harris started 12 games last season with 10 pass deflections, three interceptions, and 49 tackles. But the Broncos lost Harris for the season in Week 13 at Cincinnati with a broken leg. They did not win another game.
Staff writer Kyle Fredrickson contributed to this story.
