Breaking down Joe Haden’s new contract extension with the Steelers

PITTSBURGH, PA - OCTOBER 28: Joe Haden #23 of the Pittsburgh Steelers intercepts a pass intended for Damion Ratley #18 of the Cleveland Browns during the second quarter in the game at Heinz Field on October 28, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - OCTOBER 28: Joe Haden #23 of the Pittsburgh Steelers intercepts a pass intended for Damion Ratley #18 of the Cleveland Browns during the second quarter in the game at Heinz Field on October 28, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /
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Pittsburgh made it a priority to sign Joe Haden before the start of the 2019 season. Here’s what his new contract means for the Steelers.

There was talk much earlier this offseason that the Steelers were going to try to keep Joe Haden in Pittsburgh. With the 2019 NFL season just days away, the long-awaited deal was finally complete.

Yesterday, reports came in that Haden had signed a two-year extension that will keep him in Pittsburgh until 2022:

Haden was set to hit the free-agent market after the 2019 season. His extension makes his contract a three-year $32 million dollar deal and will expire when the former Pro Bowl cornerback turns 33 years old.

Though the money seems like a lot at first glance for a 30-year old cornerback, it actually wasn’t a terrible deal for Pittsburgh.

His new extension makes Joe Haden just the 15th highest paid cornerback in the league in terms of yearly value, according to Over the Cap. He is also just 21st in total guaranteed money among NFL cornerbacks.

Still, there are many who question the Steelers decision to execute this deal. Haden has had a very good NFL career, but his contract is for what he will do from age 30 to 33. We have seen great NFL cornerbacks, like Darrelle Revis, fall fast after reaching their 30’s. Revis hit a steep decline in play by age 31. In 2017, the former All-Pro played in just 5 games at the age of 32 before retiring.

Not all cornerbacks are the same in this regard, and Pittsburgh is obviously hoping they can get three more good years out of Haden.

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Joe Haden’s extension may have come just before the start of the season, but it wasn’t a big surprise. The Steelers are in a Super Bowl window with Ben Roethlisberger, and keeping Haden around for the next few years might give Pittsburgh a greater chance of winning it all.