5 players the Steelers were right to move on from in 2022

Steelers CB Joe Haden

One of the best free-agent signings by the Steelers ever, Joe Haden was the model of consistency for the team during his tenure here. He finally gave this secondary a capable starting cornerback that could be relied on every week to match up against opposing teams’ top receivers. No one should be upset over what he provided this team during his time here.

Father time was beginning to catch up to Haden though, as his speed and general athleticism were on the decline. He was still a smart coverage player, but against some of the faster receivers in the league, he could and was beaten. This didn’t make him a bad player, he was still a capable starter for this defense, but he was no longer the clear-cut number one option for this defense.

The team kept Ahkello Witherspoon and added Levi Wallace in the offseason, and both of them at their age makes more sense than Haden. While some are still clamoring for him to return, it seems like his time with the team is over. Unless a significant injury occurs in this group, it seems like Haden will be playing elsewhere in 2022. For a team looking to move forward with a younger secondary, this was ultimately the right move.