The Pittsburgh Steelers have secured cornerback Joe Haden for two more seasons. They have managed to keep Haden in the fold for another run at the rival Cleveland Browns, for whom Halen once played.
Adam Schefter had the report:
CB Joe Haden and the Steelers have agreed to a 2-year, $22 million extension that includes a a $16.8M signing bonus, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 2, 2019
The Cleveland Browns initially selected Joe Haden with the seventh overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft. He earned Pro Bowl honors twice and was named a second-team All-Pro in 2013 during his seven seasons in Cleveland before his tenure ultimately came to an end following his release prior to the 2017 campaign due to reported contract disputes.
Pittsburgh wasted no time in signing Haden to a three-year, $27 million contract to join his former AFC North rivals. He has since taken on duties as the top cornerback on the depth chart. Although the 30-year-old may be past his prime, he still proved to be one of the more reliable options in the league after finishing the 2018 campaign with 63 tackles, two interceptions, and 12 pass defenses.
There is still plenty of speculation regarding how the new deal will affect his yearly salary. Joe Haden was initially slated to earn at least $10 million for the 2019 NFL season. The extension would likely reduce his cap hit for the Steelers this year.
It is no secret that Haden is entering the final stretch of his career. Some were likely hoping there would be mutual interest in the veteran taking a discount, however, his track record with such negotiations suggests it would have been unlikely.
While the Steelers may have ushered in some significant changes this offseason, expectations still remain the same. They will be relying heavily on Haden to continue to serve as a stabilizing factor in the secondary.
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