Pittsburgh Steelers sign cornerback, Joe Haden

According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Joe Haden have reportedly agreed to a three year, $27 million.

This deal will average nine million a year with the bulk of the deal pushed down toward the end of the contract.

Joe Haden has been a relative shutdown corner throughout his career with the Cleveland Browns. In many cases he has been a top player on a struggling team. This is a serious opportunity for Joe Haden to win a Super Bowl now.

I must note that last year was a down year for Joe Haden. Some have speculated that he is on the back nine of his career.

The Steelers have indicated a win now attitude with Roethlisberger towards the end of his career. The Steelers know they have a short window to win now that Roethlisberger is contemplating retirement and Le’Veon Bell is likely only going to play a couple more years on franchise tags.

The Steelers have struggled a lot since Ike Taylor retired to solidify the cornerback position. It has long been a position of weakness for the Steelers. The Steelers have used countless draft picks, particularly in the fifth round, to find a cornerback to solidify the position.

This move was likely in response to the hole at the other cornerback position opposite Artie Burns. Ross Cockrell has struggled this preseason and has not lived up to the hype that he drew in his first year with the Steelers. Ross Cockrell has struggled with man coverage and the Steelers are trying to incorporate man schemes into their defense. The Steelers also tried Coty Sensabaugh at the other cornerback position; however, he seems more slated for a backup role.

Next: Analyzing the Steelers WR battle pt. 2

Joe Haden may be on the back nine of his career, but this is a “win-now” move that shows the Steelers are serious about shoring up the cornerback position.