4 overrated defensive players heading into NFL free agency
By Andrew Falce
Free agency target Joe Haden
Joe Haden has had quite a career in the NFL. Between both the Browns and the Steelers, Haden has been one of the steadier coverage options in the league. While he posted another decent season in Pittsburgh, his age is clearly starting to catch up with him. While he was never a cornerback that relied on elite speed, the athleticism he had is clearly waning and it is causing Haden to regress.
A team looking for cornerback help will like Haden’s experience and veteran presence but paying him anything close to starter money would be a mistake this offseason. Simply put, he isn’t fast enough to cover most outside receivers at this point. Giving him starting money and expecting him to hang with faster players is thus unwise.
What a team could potentially do is sign him and move him. He has the smarts to be a slot corner or free safety. At either position, his declining athleticism would be hidden better than at the outside corner spot.
However, signing him to start along the outside is a mistake. A veteran presence for depth or a stating slot/safety may work out fine for Haden, but anything else will likely not yield great results for the free agent.