The Denver Broncos have acquired a Pro Bowl cornerback in a trade, and it might signal that another cornerback is moving on.
On Tuesday, the Denver Broncos agreed to send a fourth-round pick in the upcoming draft to the Jacksonville Jaguars in exchange for cornerback A.J. Bouye.
The deal can’t become official until the new league year opens on March 18th.
As soon as the news of the transaction came out, the immediate thought was that Bouye will be the Broncos’ replacement for Chris Harris, who is set to become an unrestricted free agent.
Harris even seems to think as much.
đź‘€ lol They might have to see me now #StrapHarris
— Chris Harris (@ChrisHarrisJr) March 3, 2020
It is a business at the end of the day, and all feelings aside, the players understand that fact.
Harris will be looking for a big contract this offseason after spending his entire nine-year career to this point with the Broncos. During that time, Harris has posted 518 total tackles, 20 interceptions and 90 pass deflections while being selected to four Pro Bowls.
Bouye began his career with the Houston Texans and has spent the past three seasons in Jacksonville after going undrafted out of Central Florida in 2013. He has 14 career interceptions.
The Broncos get a player that can begin to replace Harris’ production and a player that might be a better fit for Vic Fangio’s defensive scheme. Back in 2017 when Bouye was a free agent and Fangio was working as the defensive coordinator of the Chicago Bears, the Bears tried to sign him. He took an offer from Jacksonville that was reportedly for less money.
cxn: In 2017, when Vic Fangio was the DC for the Bears, they tried to acquire A.J. Bouye as a free agent. Bouye later said that the Bears actually offered him the most money.
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) March 3, 2020
Fangio has had his eyes on Bouye for some time and now that he has him, he could pair him in a secondary with another defensive back he knows well, Bryce Callahan, next season.
This move gives the Broncos a bit of clarity heading into free agency and the draft. Cornerback was a position that was going to need to be addressed one way or another, but the addition of Bouye allows for the Broncos to move on from one of the best defensive backs in team history and lessen the blow of his departure.
Should Harris leave, both the Texans and Kansas City Chiefs are teams that could be interested in his services. But as KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis notes, the Broncos could still find a way to retain Harris.
Per Broncos source: For clarity, although acquisition of A.J. Bouye makes it less likely for Chris Harris to return, it does not shut the door on him. Team still in need for one more proven CB to go with Bouye/Callahan and young corners (D. Harris, Dawson, Yiadom). #9sports
— Mike Klis (@MikeKlis) March 3, 2020
Bouye’s contract comes with little risk. In each of the next two seasons, Bouye will cost the Broncos $13.5 million, but none of that money is guaranteed. If he comes in and is a flop in 2020, the Broncos can move on from him fairly easily.
Harris’ deal in 2019 paid him just north of $12 million. As an unrestricted free agent, Spotrac notes that Harris’ market value is somewhere around $33 million for three years, or just over $11 million annually.
Harris will likely be looking for a team to offer him more than that. Time will tell if there is a team that does.
But in the meantime, the Broncos have acquired a new piece for their secondary that should have plenty of tread left on his tires.
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