Report: Broncos flying in CB Davontae Harris with 'intention' to sign him to 53-man roster

The Broncos are adding another young cornerback to the roster.

After beginning Sunday morning with 52 players on the active roster, the Denver Broncos have made multiple cuts and additions and now sit at...50. 

The Broncos will be at 53 players on the active roster in time to play the Oakland Raiders in Week 1 on September 9. That leaves three roster spots currently wide open, with one of them to be taken by linebacker Corey Nelson once he passes his physical. So, 51. 

We now know who the Broncos have in mind for that 52nd spot, thanks to a report by ESPN's Dianna. The Broncos are flying in cornerback Davontae Harris, formerly of the Cincinnati Bengals. 

Mike Klis confirmed Denver's interest, adding that the 'intention' is to sign Harris on Monday morning officially. The Broncos went into Saturday with already five cornerbacks on the roster, the most recent of which is Duke Dawson, whom the team acquired via trade on Friday. 

Harris would represent CB6, although it's fair to point out that Dawson is a more versatile DB whom the team likely envisions playing a little safety, too. So what do we know about Harris?

Harris (5-foot-11, 200 pounds) played his college ball at Illinois State. The Bengals selected him in the fifth round of the 2018 NFL Draft. Unfortunately, Harris suffered a knee injury as a rookie that saw him land on injured reserve in early September. 

The Bengals returned him to the active roster in December, where he would appear in three regular season games, posting one tackle. Fast forward half a year and the Bengals waived him in their final roster cutdowns on Saturday. 

Once again, though, one team's trash could be another team's treasure. Sometimes a change of scenery and team culture can make a world of difference, especially for a young player. Harris sounds relieved to start over in a different NFL city. 

I’d like to thank the Bengals for drafting me and giving me an opportunity to grow as a rookie and introduce me to the NFL, but is on to the next stop The Wichita Kid is going to the Broncos🔥✌🏾🛫. https://t.co/3Yneomcde4

— Davontae Harris (@wichkid) September 1, 2019

Here's what our senior draft analyst Erick Trickel had to say about Harris. 

"Cincinnati has a tough group of cornerbacks which made it hard for Harris to make it, despite looking really good in the preseason. He is a versatile defensive back that can be moved around, which the Broncos have prioritized. Harris can be a little quick to react on double moves, giving up separation, but he has a quick recovery to get back with his assignment."

Harris will fit in nicely with the defensive back corps the Broncos have cultivated. To wit, the cornerback room looks like this: Chris Harris, Jr., Bryce Callahan, Isaac Yiadom, De'Vante Bausby, Duke Dawson and now Davontae Harris. 

It'll take both Dawson and Harris a little time to get up to speed in Vic Fangio's defense but the Broncos have plenty of depth to get by in the meantime. These backup cornerbacks will contribute on special teams as they acclimate and await their shot to play on defense. 

Follow Chad on Twitter @ChadNJensen and @MileHighHuddle.