Cornerback Joe Haden played his first seven NFL seasons with the Cleveland Browns.
He was drafted seventh overall by the Browns in the 2010 NFL Draft after a successful three-year stint with the Florida Gators.
During his time at Gainesville, Haden won the 2008 BCS National Championship and became a Unanimous All-American in 2009.
The Maryland native became an asset in the Browns’ secondary, leading to two Pro Bowls and one All-Pro selection.
But after the 2016 season, the team moved on after failed trade attempts.
He signed a three-year, $27 million deal with Cleveland’s division rival, the Pittsburgh Steelers.
He ended up playing five seasons with the Steelers, earning a Pro Bowl selection in 2019.
As of writing, he remains a free agent even if he still has some gas left in the tank.
However, he brought excitement to Browns fans after his latest Instagram post.
Former #Browns CB Joe Haden on Instagram: pic.twitter.com/w1bUNJEUJO
— Brad Stainbrook (@StainbrookNFL) June 23, 2022
Haden indicated that he is in talks with the Browns for a possible return.
At 33 years old, he can still be a reliable contributor in a secondary that has John Johnson III, Greg Newsome II, Grant Delpit, and Denzel Ward.
Offering him a contract wouldn’t be a problem either because of the Browns’ $41 million in cap space.
How Can Haden Help The Browns?
He might have lost a step, but his football wisdom is still valuable in slowing down the offense of their AFC North rivals.
It also helps to have a proven veteran in Haden defend against the likes of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Chase Claypool and Diontae Johnson.
Likewise, they need extra personnel to cover the talented Cincinnati Bengals receiving corps of Tee Higgins, Tyler Boyd, and 2021 Offensive Rookie of the Year Ja’Marr Chase.
Haden’s football IQ will also come in handy in trying to decipher the decision-making of Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson, and Mitchell Trubisky.
Therefore, adding Haden is a low-risk, high-reward move for the Browns.
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