Steelers All 90: CB Joe Haden
All 90 is a Pittsburgh Steelers Now series profiling each of the 90 members of the Steelers 2021 offseason roster.
23 • Joe Haden, 12th-year cornerback
5-foot-11, 195 pounds
Acquired: Signed with the Steelers as a street free agent on Aug. 30, 2017, after being released by the Cleveland Browns.
Last season: Started 14 games for the Steelers, twice missing time while on the COVID-19 list, including the team’s playoff loss to the Cleveland Browns.
Haden finished with 52 tackles, 12 passes defended and two interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown.
Career: Haden was the No. 7 overall pick by the Browns in 2010 and was a two-time Pro Bowler and 2013 All-Pro in his seven seasons in Cleveland.
With Pittsburgh, he earned another Pro Bowl berth in 2019 and has settled in as a leader on the defense.
College: Started as a true freshman at cornerback at Florida after playing quarterback and safety in high school. Started for three seasons and was a unanimous All-American and Sporting News national defensive player of the year as a junior in 2009 as Florida was a BCS national championship.
Camp outlook: Haden is the Steelers’ No. 1 cornerback without any contest.
The only question this season will be if the 32-year-old Haden can handle the increased workload as the team breaks in a new starter on the other side. That will likely leave Haden with all of the top matchups week in and week out.
Also concerning for the Steelers in that regard is his relative lack of availability. Just once in his career has he played in all 16 games in a season, and he’ll be asked to play in 17 in 2021 with a big role.
Future: Haden is entering the final season of his contract with the Steelers and is set to count for $15.575 against the cap, after which, he’ll become a free agent.
The rest of the 90:
Read This Next
