4 Steelers who could be cap casualties after the 2020 season
By Tommy Jaggi
CB Joe Haden
Joe Haden is a fan favorite and a likable personality. However, that doesn’t give him immunity from what could happen to his contract in 2021. While he has been an excellent signing by the Pittsburgh Steelers and has offered the team four great seasons, his time with the franchise could be coming to an end.
Haden’s cap numbers skyrocket in 2021, as he will become the 4th-highest-paid player on the team – a number that is clearly too high considering his modest play to above-average play in 2020. The veteran cornerback is set to make over $15.5 million next season – a number that clearly isn’t going to fly. Unfortunately, in order to dump his massive contract, the Steelers would be forced to eat a whopping $8.5 million in dead cap while saving $7 million in cap space.
A short extension is an option (perhaps even a pay cut), but Haden may not go for either of those options. While it’s not ideal to lose that much in dead cap space, Pittsburgh can’t justify paying nearly $16 million for a cornerback who turns 32 years old in the offseason. He could be in his last season with the Steelers.