Denver Broncos cornerback Chris Harris is seeking a contract extension worth at least $15 million per year and he has given the team an ultimatum: pay him or trade him.
Broncos general manager John Elway won’t pay Harris that much, so unless the two sides can agree on a middle ground in negotiations, Denver may be forced to trade the four-time Pro Bowler.
The team will listen to trade offers for Harris “but they won’t give him away,” according to KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis. It’s unclear how much the Broncos are seeking for Harris, who will turn 30 years old in June.
If Denver keeps Harris on the roster in 2019 and allows him to walk in free agency in 2020, the Broncos would likely receive a compensatory draft pick in 2021 (as high as a third-round pick). With that being among the team’s options, Denver may not accept less than a third-round pick in a trade.
Many trades will happen during the draft this weekend but there’s no guarantee Harris will be dealt. With such short notice, the Broncos may feel that they could get better value after the draft.
The situation is still worth monitoring into the weekend, though.
