Denver Broncos free agency 2020: Top 5 targets

Chris Harris Jr. has spent his entire NFL career with the Broncos. After going undrafted out of Kansas, Harris made four career trips to the Pro Bowl, was named First-Team All-Pro in 2016 and was part of the Broncos’ latest Super Bowl-winning team in 2015. However, he is on the wrong side of 30 and there is a chance the Broncos could part ways with the impending free agent.

Harris made $12 million on a one-year deal to stay with the Broncos in 2019. Though not a Pro Bowler, it was about on par with any non-Pro Bowl season for Harris in Denver. He started all 16 games, but only came away with one interception. One could chalk that up to playing in a new defensive system under first-year head coach Vic Fangio. Could we see a jump in year two?

For the better part of the 2010s, Harris was the best slot corner in football. He brought to light the importance of dominating defensively in that role. Many people in Broncos Country will hope that Harris only wears Broncos colors in his NFL career, but it won’t be cheap to bring him back to the team on a new contract.

Franchise-tagging Harris wouldn’t make a ton of sense because he’s not a top-five cornerback in football entering 2020. Doing so would cost the Broncos a projected $16.5 million. Denver has the cap room to do it, but one would think a long-term deal to keep Harris as a lifelong Bronco is the better play here. Look for the Broncos to do their best to bring back the face of their secondary.