Joe Haden had previously approached the Pittsburgh Steelers about a contract extension that would allow him to retire with the franchise. Now, though, Haden is going to play out his contract and become a free agent in 2022, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Haden's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, told Schefter that Haden “is excited about that opportunity” to become an unrestricted free agent. They're expecting a strong market.

The 32-year-old has been with the Steelers for the last four seasons after starting his career with the rival Cleveland Browns. Haden was the seventh overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft and played seven seasons with the Browns, earning two Pro Bowl nods in the process.

The Browns released Haden in 2017 (so he was an unrestricted free agent before, contrary to what Rosenhaus said), but he quickly signed on in Pittsburgh. He has become a mainstay on an elite Steelers defense, making his third career Pro Bowl in 2019.

Haden will play a key role for Pittsburgh again in 2021, and then it looks like he's going to seek out other opportunities. That doesn't necessarily mean he'll be leaving the Steelers, but he wants to see what else is out there. While they think there will be a strong market, he will be 33 years old in 2022 with a good amount of miles on him, so how he plays this season could determine a lot.