3 Steelers who can’t be brought back in 2022 for the rebuild

The Steelers will be rebuilding in 2022, and while they have talented players on the roster, these three can’t be back for the rebuild.

The Steelers will be a team rebuilding in 2022, and while they will never admit to it, they will likely not be contenders for next season. That means the team has to prioritize youth and the future over guys who realistically won’t be around in two-three years.

With this rebuild in mind, here are three Steelers that can’t be back with the team in 2022.

Steelers can’t bring back Haden

Joe Haden has been one of the best free-agent signings that this team has made in recent years. The veteran cornerback has helped bring this secondary back from mediocrity and he has been a steady contributor even with his age slowing him down. While his overall play hasn’t been horrible this season, there is no real reason to bring back Haden.

For starters, while his coverage skills have still been sharp, his decline in athleticism has been relatively obvious. He would benefit from a move to free safety, but that would leave him with no starting spot with the Steelers. He may be ok at corner for another season, but in a year when the team has next to no chance of competing, bringing him back is fruitless.

The Steelers will likely bring in a new corner next season, so having Haden around would prohibit the development and playing time of some of the younger corners. James Pierre and Ahkello Witherspoon, assuming he is brought back, would see fewer snaps if Haden is back. As well, any cornerback that is drafted would struggle to see snaps over the veteran. Add in Haden’s price tag, which won’t be cheap, and bringing him back in 2022 seems like an unnecessary move.