10 realistic replacements Steelers could find for CB Steven Nelson
By Andrew Falce
Casey Hayward
The other free agent option on this list, Casey Hayward would certainly be an aggressive add for the Steelers. Right now, the team won’t have anywhere near the cap space to afford Hayward, but after Nelson is dealt, the team could add him on a moderate two-year deal. This would allow his first-year cap hit to be smaller and more affordable this year.
Hayward is coming off a down year, and his age makes him a less than desirable long-term option at the position. That said, if the Steelers are dedicated to making a serious run at the Super Bowl, adding an established veteran like Hayward would be a solid move. He can easily start at least one more year alongside Haden.
While this would be more of a band-aid, it could be just what the team needs to compete in 2021. Their secondary won’t take a massive step back and his first-year cap hit wouldn’t be huge. Long-term, it would allow an option like Layne or Pierre to develop another year before being counted on to start. A move like this would be the smallest drop-off from Nelson this season.