For those keeping an eye on the NFL Networks’ top 100 players of 2015, Wednesday night revealed No.’s 20-11 and there were three cornerbacks listed who were ranked amongst players from across the league. None of them led the league in fewest yards allowed and none of them was named Chris Harris Jr.
Analysts across the league can attest to the Broncos developing their own top-tier secondary, acquiring cornerback Aqib Talib and safety T.J. Ward in 2014 from trades, adding to cornerbacks Harris and rookie Bradley Roby.
Arizona Cardinals’ Patrick Peterson ranked (19), New York Jets’ Darrelle Revis (17) and Richard Sherman of the Seattle Seahawks (11) all landed spots in the list of top 100 players. While those are all proven cornerbacks in the league, many Denverites expected to see Harris Jr. included as well. When Richard Sherman was revealed as the top corner on the list, it was clear Harris was a snub.
NUMBER 11:
Top Ranked CB on the #NFLTop100.@Seahawks CB @RSherman_25! pic.twitter.com/FcfN6btExF
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) July 2, 2015
In 2014 Harris was reliable as ever notching 54 combined tackles, a sack, a forced fumble and three interceptions – his third consecutive year with three picks. He played all 16 regular season games and for the first time, made the Pro Bowl and was voted a second-team All-Pro after not giving up a single touchdown pass all season and leading the league with fewest passing yards allowed. Those stats are made even more impressive considering Harris suffered a torn ACL injury in the Divisional round of the playoffs in the 2013 season.
Chad Jensen of Mile High Huddle said Harris was not only the best cornerback of the league last year but also the best undrafted player since entering in 2011. “Such an egregious omission… How could Harris’ peers vote him into the Pro Bowl, but omit him from this list? It defies reason.”
Former Bronco Duke Ihenacho (now with Redskins) agreed something this outlandish needs to be put on notice.
Its a joke that C. Harris didn't make #NFLTop100 even though he's arguably the best corner in football. Numbers don't lie. Film dont either.
— Duke Ihenacho (@DukeIhenacho) July 2, 2015
Someone, did however, spotlight how much of a success the undrafted player has been. Pro Footbal Focus ranked Harris No. 4 on its list of top 101 players in the NFL.
“Chris Harris Jr. was the best cornerback in football over the 2014 season, and deserves his space firmly inside the Top 10 of the PFF Top 101”, Sam Monson of PFF said. “The fact he was able to do it coming off a torn ACL only adds to the magnitude of the achievement and the recognition that his achievements should be receiving.”
Even if his peers (and NFL Network) don’t recognize it, the Broncos do. Last December, Denver signed Harris to a five-year contract extension worth $42.4 million with $24 million guaranteed.
Harris made only $2.187 million in 2014. Revis and Peterson topped the highest-paid list of cornerbacks at $70 million and Sherman wasn’t far behind at $56 million.
Over the offseason, there has been much talk about Wade Phillips’ aggressive, attacking defense. Maybe Phillips can muster up some great defensive schemes to put Harris in a position to earn a second straight Pro Bowl. If that doesn’t grab him a spot on next year’s NFL Network’s Top 100, it’s hard to say what will.
Mike Tolbert, a Mile High Sports intern and student at MSU-Denver, contributed to this report