The Broncos have a lot of interesting decisions to make this offseason in regards to free agency. Before they decide on which ones to target from other teams, Denver must first look at its own players who are set to hit the open market.

Heading into the offseason, the Broncos have 14 players who are scheduled to be unrestricted free agents in 2020. At the end-of-season press conference, Broncos general manager John Elway said the Broncos are going to wait a month before they start evaluating their own players.

“That gives us more time to do it the right way. Rather than doing it on a personal side, because the coaches get connected with (players). I think you get a better objective view when you get away and you’re able to go back and look at it individually,” Elway said.

In the meantime, let’s take a tour through the list of players the Broncos need to make a decision about. During the next few weeks, I’ll take an in-depth look at Denver’s pending free agents, answering a simple question: Should the Broncos pay to keep them or take a pass, letting them head into free agency.

Next up…

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CHRIS HARRIS JR.

Cornerback

In John Elway’s first year as defacto general manager, his first draft selection was future Hall of Fame linebacker Von Miller at No. 2 overall in the 2011 NFL Draft. After the draft, Elway may have found another Hall of Fame player in cornerback Chris Harris Jr.

Even though he was a four-year starter at the University of Kansas, Harris fell to the ranks of the undrafted. Former Broncos executive Brian Xanders loved Harris in college and made him a priority free agent for the Broncos after the draft. Harris was an under-the-radar prospect so much so that even then NFL Network analyst (and current Las Vegas Raiders general manager) Mike Mayock didn’t even know who he was.

Harris didn’t take long to make a name for himself in the pros. In his rookie season, he played in eight games as a reserve player. Harris learned from Hall of Fame cornerback Champ Bailey and finished 2011 with 40 tackles and three passes defensed.

The next season, Harris burst onto the scene. Playing in 15 games, Harris had 51 tackles, 2.5 sacks, three interceptions, 12 passes defensed and two touchdowns. He was no longer the unknown player fighting for a spot on the depth chart. Harris established himself as a playmaker for the Broncos and that season kicked off years of dominating play.

His best season might have come in 2014. That year, Harris had 50 tackles, 1.0 sack, one fumble recovery, one forced fumble, three interceptions and a whopping 17 passes defensed. It was that season where Harris proved that quarterbacks should not throw in his direction. Harris has always had a lot of athletic arrogance, and that swagger is something teammates can follow. As a key cog of the “No Fly Zone” in 2015, Harris won a Super Bowl with the Broncos defense leading the way.

Harris has fought through injuries during his pro career; he is one of the toughest players on the team and in the league at the cornerback position. In 2018, Harris only played 13 games, but in 2019, he was able to play a full 16-game season under new head coach Vic Fangio. He has spent much of his career as a slot corner, but he has played on the outside as well. Under Fangio, Harris was moved to the outside as a key player on a tough defense.

He proved that he was a fit in Fangio’s system and Harris proved that he could stay healthy during his age-30 season. Before the trade deadline in October, there were rumblings about Harris being traded away to a team like the Lions or the Eagles. Instead of dealing Harris for potentially a mid-round pick, the Broncos kept Harris and now have a huge decision coming up now that he’s set to be an unrestricted free agent.

Should the Broncos pay or pass? Let’s take a look.

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Positives

Harris has tons of swagger to his game. He played a true shadow corner under Fangio and responded with strong play for the most part. Harris is smart and prides himself on taking on No. 1 wide receivers each week.

The work ethic that Harris maintains every season is off the charts. He studies this game closely and understands the tendencies of an opponent because of that work. Harris can get his hands on passes and still make field-flipping plays as a defensive playmaker.

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Negatives

He may not quite be the player he used to be. His age is going to be held against him, as Harris turns 31 years old this summer.

About once per game, Harris would give up a big play. Not all of the touchdowns given up to the player he was covering was his fault as miscommunications happen, but Harris will still get dinged by those plays when it comes to deciding how much he has left in the tank.

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The Market

There are not a lot of great cornerbacks on the open market in 2020. In fact, Harris is one of the best cornerbacks set to be an unrestricted free agent this offseason.

In 2020, the annual average salary for the highest-paid cornerback (Miami’s Xavien Howard) is just a little over $15 million. Originally slated to make $8.7 million in 2019, Harris got a raise and played last season for a price tag of $11.9 million.

Based on the lack of cornerback talent available in free agency, Harris might push for a similar price tag in 2020. The No. 10 highest-paid cornerback, New England’s Stephon Gilmore, makes $13.0 million in this upcoming season.

Getting around $12 million in annual average salary would put Harris in the top 15 for cornerbacks in 2020. Based on his play and projecting his play going forward, Harris likely should be paid that much.

Harris may only get two- to three-year contract offers from teams interested in his services, and he may not get any guaranteed money past 2020. He’s just at that point in his career, but the Broncos can take advantage if they want.

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The Verdict

The Broncos should make a player like Harris a Bronco for life. He is exactly the type of player that you can point to as a franchise and say “that’s the way you play in the pros.” Harris is a seasoned veteran who is respected as a leader in the locker room. Replacing him would not be easy.

I would love for the Broncos to pay Harris.

Unfortunately, I don’t think the Broncos prioritize bringing Harris back, as they may go after Cowboys cornerback Bryon Jones (four years younger than Harris) in free agency. If Harris is willing to take a discounted contract, then perhaps the two sides can stay together. I don’t think Harris should have to take a discount, and instead the Broncos should compensate him properly.

With so much money tied up in cornerback Bryce Callahan, the Broncos may not want to keep spending big money on Harris. I hope I’m wrong, but it seems like Harris might have played his last game as a member of the Broncos.

Follow @CecilLammey