The disgruntled cornerback wants $15 million a year

Late Tuesday night, Broncos’ Pro-Bowl slot CB Chris Harris Jr. requested a new contract or a trade, per Adam Schefter. John Elway and John Lynch are buddies. You know this will be a topic of conversation between the two over the next 48 hours. During his media availability on Monday afternoon, the San Francisco 49ers GM said that the cornerback is a position where you’re always looking to add talent and “when you have an opportunity to improve your team there you take advantage of that.”

This is one of those opportunities. The question now becomes is the value and contract that Harris Jr. is requesting worth it? Here’s four pros and cons to trading for one of the NFL’s premier cornerbacks over the last few years.

Why you don’t

• Paying for past production
• Will be 30-years old when the season starts
• Will likely want $15 million for multiple years with a front-loaded contract
• Denver wants a first or second round pick this year

The big worry—whenever you are going to pay a player for multiple years—is paying for past production. Harris Jr. has been outstanding for the Broncos, but he will be 30 by the time the season starts. You are betting against history here. Not to mention we will come at a steep price and at the cost of draft capital, too.

Why you would

• Premier player at a premium position
• Shows that you’re willing to win now
• Cap space
• Makes multiple players on the defense better

$15 million sounds like a lot of money, and it is, but if you want to add top-notch talent, you are going to have to pay for it. Luckily for the 49ers, they have the cap space to do it. Overthecap has the Niners at around $34 million for 2019, and over $42 million for next year. Harris Jr.’s game is not predicated on athleticism. It’s revolved around his football smarts and knowledge of the game. That won’t suffer over the next couple years.

Of all the cornerbacks that were targeted more than 40 times in 2018, Harris Jr. had the third lowest passer rating against him. Harris Jr. played 497 coverage snaps last year. 291 of those came in the slot. He succeeds anywhere he’s on the field. He is the type of cornerback that makes your pass rush look better. Harris Jr. really been that good. He takes pressure off of every cornerback not named Richard Sherman, not to mention the heedy veteran wouldn’t have those coverage busts that we saw with a young secondary in 2018.

This is a tough decision. As a risk-taker, I would do it as long as I didn’t have to give up a second round pick or better. If Harris Jr. has openly said he won’t play unless Denver pays him, that will only drive down the price. A dream scenario would be trading Harris Jr. for a fourth-round draft pick this year, and then working out a deal. What say you?