3 Steelers free agents we will sadly wave goodbye to in the new year

Steelers CB Joe Haden

Of all the free-agent signings during the Kevin Colbert era, Joe Haden ranks right near the top of the list. Despite playing his first seven NFL seasons as a member of the Cleveland Brown, Haden showed that he still had a lot left in the tank when Pittsburgh acquired him as a 28-year old cornerback in 2017.

Though he’s now past his prime, Haden is still the most consistent cornerback on the team. Most recently, he caused the crowd at Heinz Field to erupt after a remarkable 4th-down tackle that potentially saved the game against the Tennesse Titans.

Haden has earned 10 interceptions during his tenure with the Steelers, and next to Ike Taylor, I think he’s the best cornerback the Pittsburgh Steelers have had over the past twenty years. Sadly, his time in Pittsburgh is coming to a close, as he subtly said his goodbyes on social media and will seek a new contract in free agency in 2022.

Haden clearly cared about winning and he embodied what it meant to be a Pittsburgh Steeler. He will be missed.