Joe Haden will no longer call Cleveland home. The Browns cut their oft-injured All-Pro cornerback in advance of the 2017 NFL season. The news is not surprising after Haden’s name surfaced in rumors earlier in the week.
Joe Haden released by the Browns
The former Browns’ All-Pro cornerback didn’t have to wait long to find a new home in Pittsburgh.
Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Why drop a starting corner? Haden developed into a Pro Bowler in Cleveland, but his relationship with the Browns had become strained in recent years. Injuries limited him over the last two year. He showed flashes of returning to his previous form — he had a pair of interceptions in a Week 2 loss to Baltimore — but had been too inconsistent to make a lasting impression in the secondary.
Haden’s contract had a cap hit in excess of $14 million over the next two seasons. While that’s not bad for a starting corner, it’s too steep for a player who struggles to stay on the field and for team rebuilding around younger players. The move opens up more than $3 million in cap space right away.
What happens next? Haden didn’t stay unemployed for long. The Steelers, one of the Browns’ AFC North rivals, were ready to pounce as soon as Haden became available.
Other teams were interested, but Haden took less money because he wanted to join the Steelers, per Schefter.
Reactions: Haden posted a statement on Instagram and had nothing but good things to say about his former team and Browns fans:
Browns fans returned the sentiment. Dawgs By Nature rounded up reactions from fans saying goodbye to Haden, who had been the second-longest-tenured player on the team.
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