‘Important’ for Broncos to lock up Chris Harris Jr., says Schlereth

In 2019, Chris Harris Jr. heads into the final year of his contract with the Denver Broncos, but Mark Schlereth said the club should do everything in its power to make sure it’s not his final year with the team.

On Monday, the “Schlereth and Evans” co-host said it’s “very important” for the Broncos to wrap up an extension with Harris for the simple fact that he’s “considered one of, if not the best slot corner cover men in football.”

“In today’s game, you can’t have enough of those guys. You can’t have enough guys that can cover people. He can do it from the slot. He can go to the outside if you need him to do that. He can run with guys in motion. He’s got great football savvy, understanding,” Schlereth said. “So, it’d be great to tie him up long-term, get him a deal that makes him a Bronco for life, that he gets to retire here.

“He’s going be a Ring of Famer. Hell, he may be a Hall of Famer at the end of his career. So, of course, yeah, if you can lock that guy up.”

Schlereth also said it’s important for the Broncos to lock up Harris because then the club can add another cornerback through the draft or free agency.

“In today’s game, you’ve really got to have three. You’ve got to have three guys that can flat-out cover,” Schlereth said.

The comments come on the heels of a report from Denver 7 Insider Troy Renck that said the Broncos and Harris have had “very productive” talks about a contract extension.

Last week, “Stokley and Zach” co-host Brandon Stokley said while Harris no doubt has been one of the top cornerbacks in the league, coming off an injury and as he grows older in the NFL, he must continue to “prove that he can play at a high level.”

“When you get later in your career, every single year you have to prove your worth when you get up there and you become a veteran,” Stokley said. “… Every year, it doesn’t matter what you did before.

“Obviously, you were pretty good because you survived that long. But now, you’ve got to prove every year your worth and your value. And if you don’t do it, then teams will move on and they’ll go for the younger, cheaper guy.”

Harris, who turns 30 in June, has consistently been one of the top cornerbacks in the NFL since stepping into a regular starting role in 2012.

According to Pro Football Focus, Harris graded out as the third-best cornerback in the league in 2018 despite missing four games due to a fractured fibula.

In his eight seasons in the NFL, all with the Broncos, Harris has netted 19 interceptions for four touchdowns, five forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries, 4.5 sacks, and 80 passes defensed.

Harris, who signed a $42.5 million contract with Denver in 2015 per Spotrac.com, will earn $7.8 million in base salary next season, the final of his remaining deal before he’s set to hit free agency in 2020.

Follow digital content producer Johnny Hart on Twitter: @JohnnyHart7.