Joe Haden is very likely to leave the Steelers in the 2022 offseason. Here are five potential replacements the team could explore.
The Steelers didn’t quite get the dominant defense they were hoping for like they did in years past, but this group still proved to be good enough to help earn them a playoff berth. However, Joe Haden’s impact on the team seemed much smaller this year than it typically does.
In addition to missing five games due to injury, Haden failed to record an interception in the 12 games he did play this year. Prior to the start of the season, Haden’s agent reached out to the Steelers about a contract extension but declined to oblige.
Haden subtly said his goodbyes on social media before the 2021 season began, and he is very likely to look for a change of scenery in 2022. Here are five potential replacements Steelers could find for Joe Haden this offseason:
Ahkello Witherspoon, Steelers
This is the most obvious replacement for Haden, as Ahkello Witherspoon is literally a member of the team. However, the veteran cornerback has an expiring contract and will be an unrestricted free agent in 2022.
Still, with how impressive he has been since Week 12, Witherspoon is a name that needs to be at the top of the Steelers free-agent wish list. Despite a very slow start in which Witherspoon didn’t see more than 4 total defensive snaps until Week 11, he was spectacular down the stretch for the Steelers. On the season, he allowed just a 34.9 passer rating while earning 3 interceptions in his final five games.
Witherspoon is still just 26 years old with terrific length and athletic traits to be a top outside cornerback for this team, and he has graded out as a top-ten cornerback in two straight seasons now, according to Pro Football Focus. He’s a top candidate to permanently replace Joe Haden in 2022.
Kevin King, Packers
Kevin King got off to a slow start with the Green Bay Packers, but he really broke out in his fifth NFL season in 2021. At 6’3” and 200 pounds with 4.43-speed, King is a remarkable athlete who has the ability to match the physicality of big wide receivers and the speed and quickness to handle shifter receivers.
As the former 33rd overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, King is a high-profile player who could be one of the most sought-after defensive players in free agency this year, and his 5-interception season in 2019 proved that he has the ability to take the ball away.
Like Witherspoon, Kevin King is a long rangy cornerback who is still just 26 years old. Despite his inconsistencies at times, King has the potential to be a long-time starter outside the hashes in the NFL.
Pittsburgh would be wise to bring in King in addition to extending Witherspoon, in my opinion. This could lock them into some gifted cornerbacks for the foreseeable future. After a great season, King could cost the Steelers upwards of $10 million per season, but it might still be better to go this route than to burn a first-round pick on the cornerback position.
Mike Hughes, Chiefs
Mike Hughes is another name that could potentially be on the market that the Pittsburgh Steelers could explore. The former first-round pick was somewhat of a disappointment on the Minnesota Vikings for his first three seasons, but he has had an excellent year for the Kansas City Chiefs.
According to Pro Football Focus, Hughes is the 8th-highest-graded cornerback in the NFL this year. Though he has just three career interceptions, Hughes has proved to be one of the better cover cornerbacks in the NFL, and the Steelers will fall in love with his ability to come up and support the run.
At 5’10” and 189 pounds, Hughes is significantly smaller than both Ahkello Witherspoon and Kevin King, but he’s a good athlete in his own right and makes up for his lack of elite size with quick-twitch and scrappiness.
The Steelers have had success in the past from poaching a Chiefs cornerback in Steven Nelson, and Hughes would be able to play a similar role if they decide he’s worthy of being Joe Haden’s replacement on the team next season.
Andrew Booth Jr., Clemson
If the Steelers decide not to get Joe Haden’s replacement in free agency or if they are outbid on all of the quality options they have their eye on, finding a replacement via the 2022 NFL Draft is also an option. If Kevin Colbert decides to go this route in his final season with the team, Andrew Booth Jr. could be an option in the first round.
The Clemson star defender is one of the most highly-touted cornerbacks in a strong CB class this year. While LSU’s Derek Stingley will be the first cornerback off the board, it’s anyone’s guess after that. If Booth happens to fall far enough, Pittsburgh could snatch him up to be a long-time starter on the outside.
With just 3 interceptions and 9 pass defenses in college, Booth isn’t the most productive cornerback in the class, but he’s young, physical, and talented — three traits that will help the Steelers fall in love with him in the draft process.
Booth is listed at 6’0” and 195 pounds, and his demeanor is exactly what the Steelers look for in the secondary. I know they haven’t been good at drafting cornerbacks, but a player like Andrew Booth would almost certainly change that.
Carlton Davis, Buccaneers
Of the cornerback options listed, Carlton Davis has arguably been the most consistent of the group. As a quality starter on the Super Bowl-winning team last year, the Buccaneers cornerback would fit right in with the Steelers.
Unfortunately, this signing wouldn’t come without a bit of risk. Since entering the NFL as a second-round pick in 2018, Davis has never been able to play more than 14 games in a season and is constantly banged up. This year, Davis missed 7 games in the middle of the season before returning with some solid performances to close out the year.
At 6’1” and 206 pounds, the former Auburn cornerback has terrific size for the position. He’s sound in coverage and can come up and support the run. The Steelers would pay Davis hoping that he would be able to stay on the field more often, but he’s a gamble worth taking.
The Steelers certainly need some help at cornerback after Joe Haden. While I think Ahkello Witherspoon is a quality option who deserves an extension, Pittsburgh should make an effort to grab another quality cornerback in free agency this year.