Steelers cornerback, Joe Haden is entering the final season of his contract. Has he earned a new deal in Pittsburgh?
The Pittsburgh Steelers have a decision to make, and it’s one that likely needs dealt with prior to the start of the 2019: Should they give cornerback, Joe Haden, a contract extension?
Haden was released by the Cleveland Browns in August of 2017, and just hours later, was signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers. Haden agreed to a three-year, $27M contract with the Steelers that is now coming to an end following the 2019 season.
But has Joe Haden played well enough to earn a contract extension? According to Mark Kaboly of The Athletic, the Steelers have yet to reach out to Haden about a possible deal:
Joe Haden said the Steelers have yet to approach him about a contract extension (entering his final year and Steelers don't do contracts in-season). Said he wants to stay with the Steelers and end his career here. Typically these things get done closer to the start of the season.
— Mark Kaboly (@MarkKaboly) June 12, 2019
Joe Haden is now 30 years old, and we have seen the results of aging cornerbacks in recent years. A perfect example of this is former All-Pro CB, Darrelle Revis. Revis was one of the best cornerbacks in the league, but following the 2015 season (at the age of 30) Revis’ play really fell off. He started just 17 more games and retired at the age of 32.
Not every case is the same, and it’s possible that Haden could play until an older age than Revis, but Haden’s age is something the Steelers need to be somewhat concerned with.
Joe Haden graded out as an above average cornerback last season, according to Pro Football Focus, with a grade of 70.9. While that number is respectable, the 37th ranked player at the position doesn’t jump off the page.
However, Haden has proven to be a quality signing in his first two seasons, and the Steelers are no doubt in a Super Bowl window as Ben Roethlisberger’s career winds down to his final years. Because of this, the Steelers should seriously consider giving Haden a reasonable extension.
Pittsburgh also has very little experience at the position. Steven Nelson turned just 26 years old this offseason, while Mike Hilton has just two years of experience under his belt and Justin Layne is a 21-year old rookie. Pittsburgh could use the veteran leadership of Joe Haden to aid in the development of the young cornerback group.
Overall, Pittsburgh needs to be careful not to get themselves in trouble financially by offering too much to a cornerback in his 30’s. However, Haden has proven his worth to the franchise, and the Steelers would be wise to keep him around a few more years while Roethlisberger is still leading the team.