Because of the fact the Houston Texans’ two starting cornerbacks are set to hit free agency on March 18, corner is a priority for the AFC South champions to address in the offseason.
If the Texans choose to use free agency to upgrade the position and not leave it chance with Gareon Conley, Lonnie Johnson, Cornell Armstrong, and some rookies, then Houston will have to spend cash in free agency.
Enter the Denver Broncos’ Chris Harris. Pro Football Focus’ Anthony Treash envisions the Texans signing the former Super Bowl champion, and teammate of current Texans cornerback Bradley Roby, to a two-year deal worth $13 million in free agency.
It seems likely that Chris Harris Jr.’s time in Denver is coming to an end. Harris moved to outside corner from the slot in 2019 and had the worst season of his career from a grading standpoint. Still, we cannot forget that he was the third highest-graded slot corner in 2018. The Houston Texans are a team in need of cornerback help in the slot and potentially willing to pay for the veteran’s services to contend. Among all 32 teams in 2019, the Texans were 32nd in slot coverage grade, where they surrendered a 122.4 passer rating. That is no bueno.
Harris will be 31 years old when Week 1 kicks off in 2020. Certainly he has a more meritorious career than Roby with four Pro Bowl appearances a first-team All-Pro selection in 2016. However, age could be a limitation. Harris did play 16 games in 2019 after playing 12 in 2018. It was the first time since 2012 that the 5-10, 199-pound cornerback missed a game.
It also worth noting that the Texans reportedly tried to trade for Harris during Week 8 of 2019 when they sustained a rash of injuries to cornerback. Ultimately, the club struck a deal with the Oakland Raiders to acquire Conley, their former 2017 first-round pick.
With $61.3 million in salary cap space to spend, the ninth-most in the NFL, Houston would have the resources to sign Harris if they still consider him an upgrade.
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