Tag: Chris Harris

Report: Broncos tried to trade for Lions CB Darius Slay in 2019

Broncos GM John Elway tried to trade for Lions cornerback Darius Slay before the 2019 trade deadline. Denver might try again this spring.

Before the 2019 NFL trade deadline, the Denver Broncos were in talks with the Detroit Lions about a potential trade for cornerback Darius Slay, according to a report from KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis.

Denver was willing to part with cornerback Chris Harris Jr. in the trade but Detroit also wanted a high draft pick, according to Klis. The two teams weren’t able to reach an agreement and Harris and Slay finished the 2019 season with the Broncos and Lions, respectively.

Slay is back on the trade block now and it wouldn’t be surprising to see Denver make another offer. The Lions “have spoken with multiple teams” about a potential Slay trade this offseason, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Slay’s potential new team will have to give him a new contract, ESPN reports.

Slay (6-0, 190 pounds) entered the league as a second-round pick out of Mississippi State in the 2013 NFL draft. The 29-year-old cornerback has made the Pro Bowl in each of the last three seasons and he led the league with eight interceptions in 2017.

Considered one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL, Slay is scheduled to earn a base salary of $10 million in 2020 before becoming a free agent next spring, according to Spotrac.com. If traded to a new team, Slay will expect to receive a contract extension as part of the deal.

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2020 NFL Free Agency: Ron Leary among Broncos fit for the Saints

The New Orleans Saints could look to Denver Broncos free agents to address their roster needs, though the best targets have club options.

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We’re continuing the long march towards free agency by surveying players who could be available from every team in the NFL, with a slant towards potential targets for the New Orleans Saints. The latest entry in this series focuses on the Denver Broncos, who have even more players on track to hit the market (30) than the Saints themselves (27), though many of those players are under consideration for club options or exclusive-rights free agent tenders. Here’s the total list, with four of our picks for names the Saints should circle below;

  • CB Chris Harris
  • DE Derek Wolfe
  • DT Shelby Harris
  • RB Theo Riddick
  • LS Casey Kreiter
  • DE Adam Gotsis
  • CB Cyrus Jones
  • OLB Jeremiah Attaochu
  • ILB Corey Nelson
  • FS Justin Simmons
  • RB Devontae Booker
  • C Connor McGovern
  • S Dymonte Thomas
  • S Will Parks
  • OLB Von Miller (Club Option)
  • G Ron Leary (Club Option)
  • ILB Todd Davis (Club Option)
  • K Brandon McManus (Club Option)
  • CB Davontae Harris (ERFA)
  • S Trey Marshall (ERFA)
  • WR Diontae Spencer (ERFA)
  • T Jake Rodgers (ERFA)
  • CB DeVante Bausby (RFA)
  • RT Elijah Wilkinson (RFA)
  • OLB Joe Jones (RFA)
  • DE Mike Purcell (RFA)
  • QB Brandon Allen (RFA)
  • WR Tim Patrick (RFA)
  • OLB Dadi Nicolas (RFA)
  • DT Joel Heath (RFA)

The name to watch here is Ron Leary, who has started games at both left and right guard for the Broncos since signing with them back in 2018. Before that, he was a versatile backup for the Dallas Cowboys, and was a popular pick to land with the Saints in free agency; instead, they picked up Andrus Peat’s fifth-year option, and now he’s headed for the open market. The Broncos have a few weeks to decide whether to pick up Leary’s club option for the 2020 season (worth $9.3 million against the salary cap, but only $875,000 of which is guaranteed). If they choose to not keep him around, the Saints would be a logical fit should Peat also not return.

Denver has a similar decision to make on inside linebacker Todd Davis, who was once stashed on the Saints practice squad before he was poached by the Broncos. Davis finished the 2019 season ranked third in defensive snaps played for the Broncos (900) but he’s due $6 million next season, with the same March 18 deadline as the other Broncos players with club options written into their contracts. If he is allowed to hit the open market, it would be a great opportunity for the Saints to correct a past mistake by adding a durable linebacker who can hold things down while Alex Anzalone and Kiko Alonso work their way back from season-ending injuries.

One other player we’ll highlight isn’t one for the Saints to consider signing, but whose contract situation will mean big ramifications for Saints free safety Marcus Williams. Justin Simmons is his counterpart for the Broncos, and compares well statistically: through four years, Simmons has recorded 11 interceptions (28 total passes defensed) with 4.9 combined tackles per game (3.6 solo). Pro Football Reference has also credited him with 17 missed tackles the last two years. That matches up closely against Williams, who has bagged 10 interceptions (23 total passes defensed) through his first three years, along with 4.0 combined tackles per game (3.2 solo) and 13 missed tackles over the last two seasons. Simmons is likely to rest the market for starting free safeties, and Williams will be a big beneficiary of that. The Saints would be wise to extend him sooner rather than later, when his asking price rises.

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Chris Harris retweets NFL Network video saying the Chiefs would be a good fit for him

Broncos cornerback Chris Harris retweeted predictions from NFL Network and ESPN that he will sign with the Chiefs during NFL free agency.

During a segment on NFL Network earlier this week, former NFL cornerback DeAngelo Hall dubbed the Chiefs as the best first for pending free agent cornerback Chris Harris.

Harris, who spent the first nine years of his career with the Broncos, retweeted NFL Network’s video with Hall’s prediction.

“I’m going to have to go with the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs,” Hall said. “I keep him in the division — he knows that division very well and anytime you don’t feel the love reciprocated, you want a little payback. So you want to see those guys twice a year.”

Harris also retweeted ESPN’s story that listed Kansas City among three potential landing spots for the cornerback.

During an appearance on “The Rich Eisen Show” in January, Harris was asked about the possibility of signing with the Chiefs.

“I’m definitely looking at everybody but like you said, I mean, I don’t see why it wouldn’t be a good fit,” the 30-year-old cornerback said.

Harris also indicated that he hasn’t ruled out re-signing with Denver.

“There is a chance,” Harris said. “There is. We know they definitely need corners there so I definitely know I’m probably high on their list for sure.”

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Chris Harris hopes Broncos will re-sign him

Broncos cornerback Chris Harris wants to return for the 2020 NFL season.

Broncos cornerback Chris Harris is in Miami this week for media row at the Super Bowl. On Thursday, he spoke with KOA’s Alfred Williams and JoJo Turnbeaugh about his looming free agency.

The hosts asked Harris if he could return to Denver for the 2020 season.

“Man, I hope so,” Harris said, via Anthony Rodriquez of KOA Radio. “It’d be great to finish here. But hey, we gotta talk to everybody. We gotta see what’s gonna be the best fit for me, who’s gonna use me the right away, and take it from there.”

Harris was then asked if there’s a possibility of him signing a contract extension with Denver before free agency begins in March.

“Yeah, I think so,” Harris said. “I think if they came serious and came with it, definitely. I don’t see why it couldn’t [get done].”

Harris, 30, totaled 56 tackles, broke up six passes, grabbed one interception and forced one fumble last season. He has recorded 518 tackles, 4.5 sacks and 20 interceptions since joining the Broncos as a college free agent out of Kansas in 2011.

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2020 NFL Free Agency: 7 CB’s for the Eagles to consider

2020 NFL Free Agency: 7 CB’s for the Eagles to consider

The Eagles are set for a gigantic retool this offseason and they’ll likely start on the outside, where they need drastic upgrades at wide receiver and cornerback.

Philadelphia can address the receiver position via one of the deepest drafts in NFL history, but cornerback is not as deep a position in the 2020 NFL Draft and Howie Roseman could use free agency as a hunting ground.

Roseman and company may already have their eyes on two talented targets at the position.

According to Tony Pauline of Pro Football Network, the Eagles are interested in both Denver Broncos corner Chris Harris and Byron Jones of the Dallas Cowboys.

The word here in Mobile is that the Philadelphia Eagles will go hard after a cornerback in free agency. Chris Harris and Byron Jones are two of the names being thrown around, but I expect the Eagles to turn over every rock in free agency in an attempt to fill the position.

The report isn’t a major surprise and with Ronald Darby and Jalen Mills both likely to move on in free agency, the Eagles are expected to revamp the cornerback position and those two names will likely be the cream of the crop for cornerbacks.

With the Eagles needing to make changes and both Jones and Harris not being locks to end up here, we’ve provided 7 potential free agent targets at the position.

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1. Byron Jones

Jones, is only 27 and entering his prime. He would provide a huge upgrade at cornerback for the Eagles while weakening their rival Dallas Cowboys. Jones is a shutdown cornerback regardless of numbers and would provide Jim Schwartz with the player that can allow the Eagles defense to pressure opposing quarterbacks. Jones isn’t an interception machine, but he doesn’t give up the big play and his physical enough to cover wideouts and tight ends.

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3 Broncos defenders make list of top 50 NFL free agents

The Broncos have three defenders on PFF’s list of top NFL free agents.

Pro Football Focus, a website that tracks advanced NFL stats, has released a list of the top 50 players who will become unrestricted free agents in March. Three Denver Broncos defenders made the list.

Denver defensive end Shelby Harris has been productive over the last three years, totaling 122 tackles, 13 sacks and one interception. He has also broken up 16 passes. Harris is ranked No. 42 and he “represents a valuable addition to some teams and likely won’t cost a fortune,” PFF wrote.

Broncos safety Justin Simmons is ranked No. 12 after earning second-team AP All-Pro honors in 2019. “Even if he can’t duplicate his All-Pro season, Simmons still brings a solid all-around safety who can line up all over the field,” PFF wrote. Expect Denver to make Simmons a high priority on their offseason to-do list.

Broncos cornerback Chris Harris is the team’s highest-ranked defender on the list (No. 5). Harris is coming off a down season but PFF attributed that to him being played out of position as an outside cornerback.

“Harris is an intriguing candidate for teams looking to put him back in the slot, where he excels in both man and zone coverage,” PFF wrote.

To view Pro Football Focus’ complete list of top free agents, click here.

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Chiefs could be ‘a good fit’ for free agent CB Chris Harris

Broncos cornerback Chris Harris said on The Rich Eisen Show that the Chiefs could be a good fit for him during NFL free agency.

Bad news, Denver Broncos fans: the Kansas City Chiefs are one win away from advancing to the Super Bowl and they might be preparing to steal the Denver’s best cornerback when NFL free agency begins in March.

During an appearance on The Rich Eisen Show last week, Harris commented on the possibility of landing with the Chiefs this offseason.

“I’m going to listen to everybody, man,” Harris said when asked by Eisen if he would sign with Kansas City during free agency. “I’m listening to everybody for sure. I mean, Kansas, I went to school there, so that’s like another home for me.

“[I have] a big following there so I’m definitely looking at everybody but like you said, I mean, I don’t see why it wouldn’t be a good fit.”

Harris, 30, entered the league as an undrafted free agent with the Broncos in 2011. Since then, he has won a Super Bowl, earned four Pro Bowl selections and totaled 20 interceptions. As he has previously said this offseason, Harris indicated to Eisen that he hasn’t ruled out re-signing with Denver.

“There is a chance,” Harris said. “There is. We know they definitely need corners there so I definitely know I’m probably high on their list for sure.”

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Will the Broncos re-sign cornerback Chris Harris?

Will the Broncos re-sign cornerback Chris Harris this offseason? The two sides seem to be sending mixed messages.

After the Denver Broncos defeated the Oakland Raiders 16-15 in Week 17, veteran cornerback Chris Harris tweeted a “thank you” to fans. That prompted the question, ‘Why would he thank fans if he wasn’t on his way out the door?’

“Thank You Broncos Country for everything,” Harris tweeted on Sunday evening. “It’s incredible what we’ve accomplished. Undrafted and 9 years later…Love y’all !!!!! 🙏🏾🙌🏾”

Does that mean Harris isn’t coming back?

Not necessarily.

Denver made Harris a three-year, $36 million contract offer earlier this season so the team clearly is open to giving him an extension. The 30-year-old cornerback is open to returning, too.

“I’d love to,” Harris said Monday. “We’re getting the right pieces back — definitely need some more pieces around me to just do what I do. That’s one thing I’m looking at in the offseason.

“My family loves it here. Of course, my kids growing up here — I grew up here. It’s definitely my first home for sure.”

Given that the Broncos are open to an extension and that Harris is open to returning, the only holdup would be contract terms. Denver general manager John Elway was non-commital during his Monday press conference when asked if the team will increase their offer to Harris this offseason.

“We have to go back and look at the money that we have available,” Elway said. “We will go through and make a plan before we get to that. We will budget it out and see what our plan is and put that plan together. I can’t answer that question right now.”

The Broncos are expected to have well over $70 million in salary cap space next year so there should be enough to re-sign Harris. The question is, how much of that cap will Denver be willing to use on Harris? Elway will have to make a decision on that this spring.

“We’re going to look at our budget, see how the pie fits, see how everybody fits in the pie and do the best job of using our money in the best ways that we can but also find the players that we hope can get us back to the playoffs and compete for a World Championship,” Elway said. 

Von Miller is Broncos’ only player on AFC’s 2020 Pro Bowl roster

What Broncos players made the Pro Bowl roster?

The NFL announced AFC and NFC rosters for the 2020 Pro Bowl on Tuesday evening and only one Denver Broncos player made the cut. Fans, players and coaches each accounted for one-third of the voting.

Broncos outside linebacker Von Miller made the roster despite ranking fifth among AFC linebackers with seven sacks this year. Wide receiver Courtland Sutton is a second alternate, according to KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis. Safety Kareem Jackson and returner Diontae Spencer are third alternates.

Sutton ranks fourth among AFC wide receivers with 1,019 receiving yards and his 18 catches of 20-plus yards rank first. Jackson became just the third player in NFL history to total 10 tackles, return a fumble for a touchdown and intercept a pass in a single game in Denver’s 38-24 win over the Texans last week.

Broncos safety Justin Simmons and nose tackle Shelby Harris were snubbed.

Harris ranks first among all defensive linemen with seven pass breakups and second among interior AFC defensive linemen with six sacks. Simmons ranks second among AFC strong safeties with four interceptions and his 84 tackles rank third.

Cornerback Chris Harris, running back Phillip Lindsay and tight end Noah Fant were also overlooked. Lindsay is 151 yards away from a 1,000-yard season. Fant ranks fifth among AFC tight ends with 548 receiving yards.

Last year, Harris, Miller and long snapper Casey Kreiter played in the All-Star game. Lindsay was also voted to the Pro Bowl but was unable to play due to a wrist injury.

The 2020 Pro Bowl will be played in Orlando, Florida on Sunday, Jan. 26 at 1:00 p.m. MT. The game will be simulcast on ESPN, ESPN Deportes, ABC and Disney XD. Tickets to the game start at $45 on Ticketmaster.

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4 things to watch for when Broncos face Chiefs in Week 15

The Denver Broncos will face the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 15. Here are four things to keep an eye on in the matchup.

The Denver Broncos (5-8) head to Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday to face the Kansas City Chiefs (9-4).

There will be plenty on the line for the Chiefs. Though they have already clinched the AFC West division crown for the fourth year in a row, they are still in the hunt for a first-round bye in the playoffs.

For Denver, they are just trying to build on their last two wins with rookie Drew Lock at quarterback. After a dominant win over the Houston Texans last Sunday, a win this week would really get people talking.

Here’s what to look for in this one.

1. Can Lock keep it going?

(Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports)

Lock is the obvious place to start as he has been sharp in his two starts with the team. He hasn’t done anything out of this world, but he has looked a lot better than Joe Flacco and Brandon Allen did and that has brought an excitement that hasn’t been felt in years.

In two games, Lock has completed a whopping 72.7 percent of his throws for 443 yards and five touchdowns. On Sunday, he will be playing against the team he rooted for as a kid and members of his family and friends are sure to be in attendance.

He will likely be motivated to continue his hot streak.

2. Is Patrick Mahomes 100 percent?

(AP Foto/David Zalubowski)

Mahomes has been good this season, but he hasn’t been as good as he was in 2018 and that might be attributed to one thing — injuries.

It seems that Mahomes has been battling injuries all season, as he tweaked his ankle against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 1 and later dislocated his knee in the first meeting with the Broncos this season.

Last week, he appeared to injure the thumb on his throwing hand against the New England Patriots.

The Chiefs have done a good job disguising his ailments and protecting him, but Mahomes hasn’t been “right” all year in all likelihood.

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