Pittsburgh Steelers: Joe Haden signing addresses problematic secondary
By Donnie Druin
With questions about the secondary as the glaring weakness of the team, the Pittsburgh Steelers went out and added an old foe in Joe Haden to upgrade.
According to multiple sources, the Pittsburgh Steelers and free agent cornerback Joe Haden have agreed on a deal worth $27 million over three years. Haden, a former Pro Bowl cornerback for the Cleveland Browns, was released on Wednesday. And little time passed before the Steelers gave Haden a call.
After meeting with the team in a brief amount of time, it was evident Haden wanted to be in Pittsburgh and a deal was struck, although ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports other teams had heavy interest in Haden as well.
The move for the Steelers comes at a time when the cornerback position, aside from Artie Burns, is rife with questions surrounding their performance. With many battles going on within the defensive back depth chart mixed with poor outings by Ross Cockrell, Haden immediately steps in and upgrades what was undoubtedly the eye sore of the Steelers defense.
The initial reception of Haden’s arrival has reached exciting levels, with Pittsburgh fans ready to welcome the once despised member of their division rivals. Players from the team have also taken to their social media sites to welcome Joe, including defensive end Cam Heyward:
@joehaden23 welcome to the burgh! Let's get it!
— Cam Heyward (@CamHeyward) August 30, 2017
Although still unclear, it is presumed Haden will assume starting duties once he arrives in Pittsburgh with Burns locking down the other side. Likewise, it will also be unlikely to see him in the Steelers preseason finale against the Carolina Panthers due to the timing of the deal.
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While Pittsburgh has had previous attempts in trying to upgrade the secondary (Brandon Boykin anybody?) the team has yet to make a legitimate splash in free agency up until the Haden signing. It’s clear Pittsburgh saw the time is now for the team to make a championship run, and now is one step closer thanks to the signing of the Pro Bowl corner.