Chris Harris And The Buccaneers
December 31st, 2019
There’s fresh news on a free agent Joe has eyes on.
Through nine seasons with the Broncos, versatile cornerback Chris Harris has four Pro Bowl trips, an All-Pro nod and a Super Bowl Ring. But perhaps more important is he has mad respect around the league and his team still thinks he’s worth a ton of money.
Veteran reporter Mike Kils in Denver shared on Twitter last night that Harris, who becomes a free agent when the dinner bell rings in March, turned down $12.5 million in guaranteed money for the 2020 season from the Broncos. Per Klis, the deal was offered at the October trade deadline as part of a two-year $25 million extension.
Harris, 30, is one of the NFL’s great stories as an undrafted free agent safety out of the University of Kansas.
About 10 days ago, Joe listened to Harris interviewed on CBS Sports Radio. Harris was adamant that he wants to get back to playing a healthy share of nickel cornerback. This season, Harris said, new Broncos coach Vic Fangio used him almost exclusively on the outside to lock down opposing teams’ top receivers.
It’s not like Harris was getting roasted. The Broncos were a top-10 defense through the season and pass defense was their strength.
Joe has heard Bucco Bruce Arians and former Arians players say that his goal is one strong leader in every position group, one veteran guy to lead each crew. So Joe believes Arians will look to find that guy this offseason for his defensive backs.
Yes, Joe knows the Bucs have three young cornerbacks in Carlton Davis, Jamel Dean and Sean Murphy-Bunting, guys who showed development through the season. But the goal is to get signficantly better, and the Bucs’ defensive weakness remains its secondary.
There might be better fits out there, but Harris’ versatility, experience and durability (he’s missed 5 games in 9 years) are very attractive.
December 31st, 2019 at 10:06 am
“LOL
We are perfectly fine with our young cornerbacks and they need more snaps not less
We need to dump bad contracts like Brates to get our FAs signed
We need draft capital to move up to get 2 starting rookie O Linemen”
Kobe Faker
December 31st, 2019 at 10:06 am
12.5 Million????
December 31st, 2019 at 10:11 am
Please FIX this defense. People dont realize how Jamel Dean and Company were playing 10 yards back, and let matty ice drive all the way down the field to tie the game in the closing minutes. That is UNACCEPTABLE. After the early fumble and Early INT, and the missed FGs, the DEFENSE STILL had a chance to close it out and they failed, just like they always do
December 31st, 2019 at 10:12 am
Absolutely! Get a proven veteran to take our young whippersnapper CBs under his nurturing wing. I love this idea!
December 31st, 2019 at 10:15 am
Grab him and 2 safeties. This defense needs some work. We cant continue this sorry defense next year……
December 31st, 2019 at 10:23 am
If you blame the defense for Sunday’s loss you really don’t know much football…
Just sayin’
Defense has been lights out, they are the only reason we stayed in these last two games.
December 31st, 2019 at 10:24 am
Just 2 days after the season ends…….we have $12mil + players trotted out for us to covet…….no way “Joe-say”……..
December 31st, 2019 at 10:33 am
Nope….money is needed elsewhere…
December 31st, 2019 at 10:36 am
The only big money free agent we should be targeting in the secondary is Jamal Adams.
Justin who?
December 31st, 2019 at 10:37 am
Love the idea but I think our secondary leadership should come from the safety position. I’d love it if the Bucs monitor the Jets and their plans for Jamal Adams.
December 31st, 2019 at 10:40 am
a couple things; there is an LSU safety available to us for cheap & if that horrible gm had a clue we should have all pro derwin james erasing plays on the back end but he took a part time player with that pick
December 31st, 2019 at 10:44 am
i would love this hire
December 31st, 2019 at 10:47 am
If this was week 8 I would be all for it. But lately the young CB core is doing pretty good. I think we need some patients to let them develop. We can put this cap money into the OL or other areas.
December 31st, 2019 at 10:53 am
wouldnt mind signing him….
GO BUCS!!!!!
December 31st, 2019 at 10:57 am
Nope, no money….signing Barrett, JPP & Suh is a must…
December 31st, 2019 at 10:58 am
Defense is the problem
PRBucFan Says:
December 31st, 2019 at 10:23 am
If you blame the defense for Sunday’s loss you really don’t know much football…
Just sayin’
Defense has been lights out, they are the only reason we stayed in these last two games.
December 31st, 2019 at 11:03 am
I really like this idea. Not sure why we wouldn’t be able to afford him even with the hopefully pending deals with JPP and Sack Barrett. I prefer to keep Suh also but we really don’t know how Suh feels about returning. The big question mark is Jameis. If, for example, Arians decided JW’s risk is too great for nearly 30 mill a year and nabbed a guy like Stafford who should come slightly cheaper, there might be a little cash left.
December 31st, 2019 at 11:04 am
You dont know much about football, u dont let a team go down the field 60 yards to tie the game in your own back yard… just like if jameis throws 3tds, and his first int comes at the end of the game, you dont hear “ jameis played great for most of the game”. Defense stinks its a fact.
December 31st, 2019 at 11:05 am
Won’t happen
December 31st, 2019 at 11:13 am
Actually, give me Broncos FS Justin Simmons to traffic cop the secondary.
December 31st, 2019 at 11:23 am
Nope. Agree with Kobe.
We need a vet or 2 that can step up in case any of our top 3 are injured, but not an aging vet who is going to take one of their starting spots by default due to his contract.
For the first time since probably the early 2000s, it looks like we might have multiple very promising secondary players. 2 of our starters were rookies and have been balling out to end the season. Davis in his 2nd year has been shut down to end the season. I don’t want to hinder that growth or continuity / chemistry.
I’d add a vet CB and vet S. I’d prioritize the safety but even then I like Edwards/Whitead and then there’s the mystery of Justin Evans.
December 31st, 2019 at 11:23 am
Too many other places to be spending money (front 7) other than CB. We now have 3 young CBs on the rise. A high priced veteran just pushes one of them off the field and slows their progress… And takes up valuable cap $$$ that could be spent elsewhere. We know it’s offseason when JBF starts with the silly overpriced unnecessary free agent speculation.
Let’s talk about new uniforms.
December 31st, 2019 at 11:23 am
i hear conte has held a presser stating he is available to the highest bidder…
on ebay
🙂
December 31st, 2019 at 11:36 am
Derwin James is not coming here, let it rest !
We need to save money to reinforce the OL for our new QB
as the defense is on the rise, and we need to keep it intact
as they won’t have so many short fields to cover and should
help their stats.
December 31st, 2019 at 11:39 am
The guys leading the league in passes defensed on rookie contracts? Displace them to pay 8 figures to a 30 year old insisting on time at Nickel? Okay sure
December 31st, 2019 at 11:46 am
@GetOverIt I disagree. Our Front 7 has been our strength. Why would we spend money on our Front 7 besides the obvious of trying to re-sign Shaq, JPP and possibly Suh. You can never have enough corners/secondary. Look at this last game. We were throwing guys that were unemployed out there because of all of the injuries. The NFL has changed and not just because they put skirts on the QB’s and have ended the joy of hitting, it is a passing league and the secondary is of the utmost importance. I do agree that the rookies are on the rise but a vet presence is sorely needed. There should be plenty of money left over even after those contracts. Things may change a bit depending on what is done with Jameis. I can almost promise you that B.A. will ultimately call the shot when it comes to Jameis and I’m not so sure B.A. thinks this team can win with him. I don’t really think we can either but there doesn’t seem to be a better option than tagging or signing Jameis to a short extension.
December 31st, 2019 at 11:59 am
P.S. That is an affirmative on new uniforms. For the love of everything good please get rid of the alarm clock numbers. I can deal with just about anything else.
December 31st, 2019 at 12:06 pm
OMG, I agree with Kobe “RoJo’s Pet” Faker.
Why? Why would we take snaps away from the best young trio of CBs in the league and pay good money to a guy that might not be as good as any of the three next season instead of to our front seven that are all ready to walk? Please! Our young secondary just needs experience. Experience they won’t get watching Harris (or Hargreaves) take their playing time. Invest that money in the front seven, maybe a RT or RB. As BA said, the secondary is FIXED!
December 31st, 2019 at 12:41 pm
If the price is right get him. Def could use his leadership an we need depth. Rather have Harris instead of smith in case of injuries. Also we should bring smith back for ST
December 31st, 2019 at 12:44 pm
12.5 Million + for a guy that wants to play Slot CB? I love Harris. He’s a good corner and he will hit FA, since the Broncos aren’t going to pay him and they need some serious OL help, particularly the Left Tackle spot (believe me, I have to hear everyone complaining about the guy on Mondays here in Denver. He really does suck). I’m just having trouble with that amount of money for a slot cover guy. Good player though. Hard to believe I’m saying this but DB is not our top priority this off season.
December 31st, 2019 at 1:03 pm
30 year old CBs aren’t worth that kind of money.
Replenish the D-Line, get a decent veteran safety and CB, just not at $12.5million + per year.
December 31st, 2019 at 1:17 pm
Let someone else overpay.
December 31st, 2019 at 1:44 pm
Eliot
Agree with you. I think Carlton Davis emerged as his group’s leader last year. I’ve heard comments from SMB who was a talented ball hawk pointing out how Davis…a 2nd year guy…was very helpful to he and Dean as first year players.
Davis matured a LOT this season and became a film room junkie…made great strides in the 2nd half of the season in keeping his hands off guys and drawing the penalties….
This secondary has a CHANCE to be truly special. SMB can catch and is a ball hawk…Davis and Dean are solid cover guys and big hitters…in fact this entire secondary…safeties included are very good tacklers.
Let Davis continue his growth as leader…he’s ready to emerge in year three.
December 31st, 2019 at 2:00 pm
Free Agency is never a good solution we have enough here we need to re-sign. Plus we should be able to get the additional talent needed through the draft and hopefully Justin Evans and Dixon come back healthy next year.
We need JPP and Barrett back, SUH would be nice as well. Godwin needs to get a pay raise and be signed to a long term deal as does Perriman. Brate is sort of a Luxury at 6 or 7 million a year. Nassib would be nice to have back after that I put my faith in Todd Bowles and BA as they seem to have a pretty good eye for talent.
I would love for us to draft a QB like Jacob Eason to push Winston in case he can’t learn how to make good decisions. I seriously wonder if Jameis can change he has to realize that you can’t throw that many interceptions and expect to win.
Arians is not going to put up with it next year he seemed very pissed in his post-game and rightfully so. Arians expects to be in the playoffs every year and he is right you cannot turn the ball over that much unless you are the 1970s Steelers or something.
For once it seems like the coaching and player development is good and hopefully we can be in the playoffs next year. If Jameis can get his head out of his arse and only throw I dunno 15 interceptions or even 10 then we are a playoff team. If not yank hiim and put in the backup.
December 31st, 2019 at 2:11 pm
Now how are the Bucs going to pay for his huge contract, along with Winston, Shaq, JPP and Kong Suh and Carl Nassib and Perriman? and all the others? instead lets make our yungry guys better by coaching them up, film daily and jugs machine drills in the offseason and more coaching! why would chris harris come here anyway because BA might let him play nickel?-lol! stop dreaming and lets start the write ups on which QB we should draft and why!
December 31st, 2019 at 2:36 pm
You cant draft a corner at this point just because hes a veteran. That’s a waste of resources, wanna sign a veteran safety who is actually good and can start but make a difference go for it
December 31st, 2019 at 2:36 pm
Not likely. If they our going to pay or draft someone to the secondary it needs to be the safety position. Grant Delpit first round.
December 31st, 2019 at 2:38 pm
Next overdo on the colorblind present uniform designers should include a uniform Buc fans approve of. Because these now are ugly and difficult to identify as a positive going forward. These clownish rejects are not accepted as a serious likeable deign. The Bucs play matched this freak show garb.
December 31st, 2019 at 2:49 pm
I am 100% with you Kobe faker. I am fine with our young CBs. Let’s spend that money on OL and QB in case Jameis continues to falter
December 31st, 2019 at 2:54 pm
I see some of the posters here get it.
ZERO need for a 10 Digit salary to sign a stopgap.
These young cats are growing FAST!!!! They need more reps not less.
Jeeeeeeeeesh to the people who can’t see the forest because there are too many trees in the way.
December 31st, 2019 at 2:55 pm
Sorry 8 digit Salary.
December 31st, 2019 at 2:56 pm
HEY UB!!!!!!!!!!!! Congrats on winning the JBF Pickem this yr.
You kicked Arse!
December 31st, 2019 at 3:01 pm
@adrnagy
Defensive secondary “was” a problem.
Never all aspects of the defense, especially not the front 7.
December 31st, 2019 at 3:14 pm
@Joe … “Bucs’ defensive weakness remains its secondary.” Two days ago that was true Joe. Today? Not so much.
Bucs’ DLine is virtually non-existent right now. Our DLine now consists of Vea, Gholston, O’Connor & Daniels. DLine UFAs include JPP, Suh, Nunez-Roches & Allen.
Bucs’ LBs consist of White, LVD, Dawkins, Cichy & Nelson (plus we’re still paying Beckwith). LB UFAs include Barrett, Nassib, Minter & Acho.
Bucs have no more claim to those 8 UFA players than do the other 31 teams in the league.
Regarding CB Chris Harris, forget it. Bucs can’t even think about spending $12+mil for a CB in 2020; too many OTHER higher priority NEEDS. If Harris was a top Safety and only asking say $5-$6 mil, I’d say go for it.
But a CB? For 2020 we’ll have SMB, Davis, Dean back and I suspect we’ll re-sign Ryan Smith (a much for his S/Ts expertise as anything). MJ Stewart is still under contract for 2020 (for $1.4 mil with a $0.9 mil dead Cap) so I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see him here too.
Where we’re hurting is at Safety. We’ve got Whitehead & Edwards coming back, and hopefully Justin Evans gets cleared to play (not betting on it though). Dixon is also under contract for 2020 but he hasn’t shown much at all. I suspect Bucs will search hard & long for a quality veteran Safety to provide field leadership for our young Secondary.
December 31st, 2019 at 3:53 pm
The guys we have now aren’t going to get better if they’re on the bench.
December 31st, 2019 at 4:20 pm
This dude turned down 12.5 million? With his numbers? Lol, he’s not even worth half of that. I’d love to get a solid veteran corner, but that’s top ten corner money. Pass.
December 31st, 2019 at 6:01 pm
Yeah, way too costly when we need to spend elsewhere!
If we dont go QB with our first, and Delpit is still there, im grabbing him. Love maybe falls to the top of the 2nd and we trade up for him….or RT Wills! Id rather have Love and Wills though. Trade down if Delpit is gone, snag an extra pick, then get Love and Wills.
The safety thats way under the radar right now is Kyler Dugger….if we could pick him up in the 3rd….man what a draft!
December 31st, 2019 at 7:30 pm
We can’t afford him. We’re going to waste $27 million on a qb who consistently loses games.
December 31st, 2019 at 9:36 pm
Pass. I like the progress of our young guys.
December 31st, 2019 at 10:50 pm
I liked the idea until I re-read the article from the posters here. 12.5 mill? Um, hard pass. Half of that and then I’m interested.
January 1st, 2020 at 9:51 am
Joe. as a kid, I was like you. When I went car shopping, I always wanted the most expensive one on a peasants’ budget.
January 1st, 2020 at 11:25 am
Joes! BA said we’re “set” at corner so I wouldn’t waste too much time on FA corners. What about a safety? Or right tackle that can also run block