4 of the easiest ways that the Steelers can create cap space

Cut Joe Haden

While Nelson makes sense to bring back for a few years, the same can not be said about Joe Haden. While the veteran had a good season, he is clearly regressing in terms of athletic ability. He was consistently beaten by younger and quicker receivers this year, making the idea of committing to him long term not realistic. Instead, if the Steelers need the space, they will likely have to simply release him instead.

If the Steelers decided to part ways with Haden, it would save them 7 million dollars. More than likely, that money could go right into signing either Mike Hilton or Cameron Sutton, allowing the Steelers to retain one of their better pending free agents. That said, losing Haden would be a blow, as the veteran has been their starter for the past few years. He was a welcome addition to this secondary a few years ago, but his time with the Steelers is running out.

It will ultimately come down to what the cap ends up getting set at this year. If the number comes in higher than expected, the team may try to keep him around. If push comes to shove though, he needs to be considered for the casualty list. Age hasn’t won yet, but if last year was any sort of a sign, Haden’s career will be coming to an end sooner than later.