5 predictions for Steelers that could come to fruition in 2021
By Tommy Jaggi
Joe Haden will be released
After another solid season, I’m not sure if Joe Haden is quite ready to walk away from the game yet, but his time in Pittsburgh could swiftly be coming to an end. According to Over the Cap, Haden has a cap number of nearly $15.6 million in 2021, and that is clearly much more than Pittsburgh is going to want to give their defensive back who turns 32 years old this offseason.
Though he would eat up a lot of dead money if released, cutting Haden would save Pittsburgh $7 million in cap space this year, and they could potentially use that money to offer Mike Hilton or Cameron Sutton a reasonable extension.
Joe Haden was a Pro Bowler in 2019, and he could try to get another two-year deal to close out his career with a different organization. However, with the Steelers current cap situation, it’s hard to justify Haden’s cap number as the second-highest on the team heading into next season. He was an excellent signing for Pittsburgh, but his time in the Steel City may be coming to an end.