Broncos May Reunite with Shelby Harris After Draft to Plug Defensive Line Depth

Denver, CO—While the Broncos continue to guard the 2027 compensatory picks they expect to receive for John Franklin-Myers and P.J. Locke, one familiar face has emerged as a low-cost option to shore up the defensive line: veteran Shelby Harris.

Harris, 34, remains unsigned after visiting the New York Giants earlier this offseason. The 6-foot-2, 288-pound tackle logged 32 tackles, seven tackles for loss, and one sack in 17 games for Cleveland last season, operating primarily in a rotational role.

Denver’s front office is reluctant to add any player whose contract might cancel the projected mid-round comp picks, but Harris could likely be had for around the $3 million he earned with the Browns in 2024. Because Franklin-Myers signed a lucrative deal with Tennessee, and Locke’s free-agent contract is similarly valued, a modest offer to Harris would not jeopardize Denver’s compensatory formula.

The Broncos currently project second-year pro Eyioma Uwazurike and undrafted rookie Sai’vion Jones to compete for Franklin-Myers’s old spot opposite Zach Allen. Both are high-upside but unproven, leaving general manager George Paton open to a veteran hedge—especially one who already knows the scheme.

Harris started 42 games for Denver from 2019-2021 before being shipped to Seattle as part of the Russell Wilson blockbuster. A short-term reunion would give the Broncos an experienced rotational piece without blocking the development path of Uwazurike or Jones.

League rules stipulate that free-agent signings no longer count toward the compensatory equation once the draft concludes. If Denver waits until late April, it could also explore bigger names such as former Saints All-Pro Cameron Jordan. Should the club opt for familiarity and fiscal prudence, however, Harris stands out as an ideal post-draft depth add.