The Denver Broncos are on the verge of locking up one of their most impactful defenders for the foreseeable future. According to Mike Klis of 9 News in Denver, star cornerback Chris Harris Jr. is “extremely close” to signing a new one-year deal with the Broncos.
https://twitter.com/MikeKlis/status/1133401672724520961
Harris has been absent from the Broncos all offseason as he and the team discuss a short-term contract. Over the weekend, it was reported that the parties had made significant progress on negotiations that would net the four-time Pro-Bowler a significant pay raise in 2019.
Harris is currently in the final season of a four-year, $42.5 million contract extension he signed in 2014. He would make $7.8 million if he played out the coming season on his existing deal – pennies on the dollar for one of the NFL's premier cover men. The former undrafted free agent is reportedly seeking a one-year salary in the vicinity of $15 million that would allow him to enter free agency next spring.
Harris played in 12 games last season before suffering a broken fibula in a win over the Cincinnati Bengals on December 2nd. He was placed on injured reserve two weeks later, officially ending his season with 49 tackles, 10 passes defensed, and a career-high tying three interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown.
Denver is in a state of transition after going 6-10 last season and replacing Vance Joseph as head coach with former Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Vic Fangio. General manager John Elway made a big change at quarterback, too, trading for veteran Joe Flacco and selecting Missouri quarterback Drew Lock with a second-round pick.
