The Chargers agreed to a two-year deal with cornerback Chris Harris Jr. on Wednesday.
In order to get familiar with the veteran corner, here are five things to know:
Polished college resume
Harris spent four years at the University of Kansas, where he received a handful of honors and awards for his efforts, which included KU defensive back of the year (2010), Freshman All-America Honorable Mention, Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year and All-Big 12 Freshman Team (2007).
Defied the odds
In 2011, Harris was a long shot to making the Broncos roster after going undrafted. He made the final roster and was named the fourth cornerback on the depth chart behind the likes of Pro Bowler Champ Bailey. After injuries occurred throughout the season, he moved up the depth chart and eventually earned a permanent starting job. Harris finished his rookie campaign with 72 tackles, six passes defensed, and one interception in 16 games and four starts. He was named to the Pro Football Writers of America’s All-Rookie Team.
Injury history
Harris doesn’t have a lengthy injury report for someone that has played at least 15 games in eight of his nine seasons. He suffered a torn ACL in 2013 and a broken fibula late in the 2018 season.
Cream of the crop
Harris has been regarded as arguably the NFL’s best slot cornerback within the best decade, earning four Pro Bowl selections and a First Team All-Pro nomination in 2016. Denver’s secondary which was regarded as “No Fly Zone” ranked among the league’s top five in passes defensed in 2015, 2016 and 2017. He has 20 interceptions, 86 passes defensed, 6 forced fumbles and 4.5 sacks in his career.
New Chargers cornerback Chris Harris has been among the best slot CB in coverage over the last four seasons.
Harris has allowed just 4 TD when targeted as the nearest defender from slot alignment since 2016. https://t.co/K0BwwXOwII pic.twitter.com/5uNJYyvoNv
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) March 18, 2020
How he fits with Chargers
With the addition of Harris it’s uncertain if he will play on the outside or in the slot. He played on the outside last season, but he struggled against the league’s best receivers, allowing 731 yards and four touchdowns as opposing quarterbacks had a 114.3 passer rating when targeting him. I believe he will he will move back to his natural position in the slot to shore up a slot coverage unit that was third-worst in completion percentage above expectation last season on slot targets, per Next Gen Stats.
As for Desmond King who has manned the slot the past few seasons, the team could use him in a couple of roles if Harris will be starting inside. They could play him outside, as he has proven to be reliable in that role in college or he could be used as a dime linebacker, which is what Adrian Phillips played, where he will have more responsibilities as a blizter. Or, they could ultimately bank on Harris thriving as an outside corner in defensive coordinator Gus Bradley’s Cover 3 scheme while King stays inside.