Step 1 for Broncos nose tackle Shelby Harris — prove he can be a reliable player – became a success last year.

Harris followed his 5 1/2 sacks in 2017 with a career-best 39 tackles a season ago, and the Broncos rewarded him with a second-round restricted free agent contract tender, which raised his salary from $705,000 to $3.095 million (a 227-percent raise).

“I’m just happy to be wanted for another year, especially with the way my career started,” said Harris, who was cut six times before joining the Broncos in January 2017. “I worked my butt off for this and it’s really showed me where I can go. I’m not done yet. This is a little stepping stone.”

Step 2 for Harris: A long-term contract.

“That’s every man’s dream,” Harris said after an organized team activity workout this week. “I would love a multi-year deal here, but the way that works, you have to focus on this year, go out and play.”

What works in Harris’ favor is that he figures to play more this year. He played 390 of 1,077 snaps in 2018, but starting nose tackle Domata Peko (522 snaps) was not re-signed. Harris worked with the first-team defense during Monday’s OTA.

In a reserve role, Harris posted numbers that should invite optimism. Per The Denver Post’s game charting, he had 1 1/2 sacks and 10 1/2 disruptions (pressures/knockdowns/sacks), fourth-most on the Broncos. Against the run, he had 12 1/2 “stuffs” (gain of three or fewer yards), fifth-most. And his end zone interception sealed the Week 12 win over Pittsburgh.

Harris said coach Vic Fangio’s defense calls for one- and two-gap responsibilities for the nose tackle, which will require equal parts patience, power and aggressiveness depending on the call.

“He’ll use the nose all over,” Harris said of Fangio. “You have to be able to move, hold down the middle and also pass rush a little bit.”

Rypien settling in. Quarterback Brett Rypien agreed to terms with the Broncos shortly after the draft. During the open OTA on Monday, he lived the life of a fourth-teamer — minimal snaps in team work.

“It’s going to be a lot of mental reps for me,” he said after rookie camp. “I know that going into it.”

Rypien started 49 of his 50 games at Boise State (37 wins) and had 90 touchdowns and 29 interceptions. He was not one of the 11 quarterbacks drafted.

Of transitioning to an NFL offense, Rypien said: “It’s been a little bit easier for me since I did call plays (relayed from the sideline) in the huddle and was under center a little bit. For me, I thought this was a good fit in an offense I thought I could do well in.”

OTAs beneficial. Only three players have been in the NFL longer than outside linebacker Von Miller (ninth year): Quarterback Joe Flacco (12th year) and receiver Emmanuel Sanders and linebacker Dekoda Watson (10th year apiece).

But Fangio said OTAs serve a purpose for even an accomplished player like Miller.

“He’s got a lot to learn out there,” Fangio said Monday. “Part of his job will be dropping (into coverage) sometimes and playing the run. He’s got to be sharp on that. He missed a thing or two (Monday) that I noticed. All the guys up front, it’s not NFL football (without pads), but there can still be something gained from it.”

Said Miller, when relayed Fangio’s analysis: “I’m right there with him. We can definitely learn stuff. You’d rather make all of the mistakes here in the spring than in training camp.”

Teaching teams. Even some of the undrafted free agents signed by the Broncos have very little special teams experience, which means rookie camp and OTAs are a crash course in techniques and rules of covering/blocking.

“Some do, but most don’t,” special teams coordinator Tom McMahon said. “You have to restart. The other thing is that every rule for a kickoff in college is different than (the NFL). It’s like completely different leagues.”

Footnotes. Tight end Jeff Heuerman on first-round pick Noah Fant: “Noah’s a good player and when we add good players, it’s good for the team. We’re working together and it’s going to be good.” … The Broncos’ second set of OTAs will be next Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. … The Rolling Stones have rescheduled their concert at Mile High for Saturday, Aug. 10. That gives the stadium grounds crew nine days to get the field ready before the 49ers-Broncos game on Aug. 19.