The Denver Broncos are used to being underrated and overlooked. It suits them. Since last season, it’s been their go-to move, and they like it; they love the motivation.
This team thrives off the “nobody believes in us” mentality, and they have plenty of that going for them right now.
Still, when you really sit down and watch this group play, it becomes very difficult to ignore the extreme amount of talent on the roster. Case and point, Chris Harris Jr.
Chris Harris Jr. has been a fan favorite in Denver for a long time. Why? Because he’s great, really great. That’s clear as day. Outside of the Mile High City, though, he’s more of a cult hero, the guy only hard-core football junkies love to talk about.
He’s consistently been ranked as one of the three-best cornerbacks in the entire NFL by Pro Football Focus, and the same is true this year, as he’s currently No. 3 in their grading system, one spot in front of Aqib Talib.
For Harris, it’s his versatility that makes him so valuable. He can take the No. 1 receiver on the outside or he can move into the slot and guard the opponent’s quick, shifty wideout; whatever the team needs.
And while he’s still underrated in most circles, there are plenty who see he’s true impact.
“Chris Harris is the most underrated player in the league. He and Talib are a great duo,” ESPN’s Jon Gruden told Cameron Wolfe of The Denver Post. “There’s a commitment to playing sticky, bump-and-run man coverage out there. And it’s worked out great.”
Gruden, one of the elite football minds, also knows a thing or two about Aqib Talib, who he drafted in the first round as the head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Tonight, he’ll get to see both corners give it their all to make former Bronco Brock Osweiler miserable on Monday Night Football.
