The Steelers are still in a holding pattern on contract talks with Joe Haden, but the cornerback remains hopeful something will get accomplished with a new deal before the start of the regular season.
Drew Rosenhaus, Haden's agent, was in attendance at the team's 17-7 preseason win against the Chiefs last Saturday night. But Haden did not play in the game — he's been nursing a foot injury after getting stepped on two weeks ago at training camp at Saint Vincent College.
"No, we’re still talking," Haden said Monday as the Steelers returned to the Rooney Sports Complex after breaking training camp.
"You know Drew, he’s got guys on this team, that team. Drew’s all over the place. He was just checking on his guys. We’re still working."
The Steelers would like to work out a contract with the 30-year-old cornerback that will extend him beyond this season and lower his $11.9-million cap hit. Haden is in the final season of a three-year, $27-million deal he signed with the Steelers in 2017 after his release by the Browns.
The Steelers currently have $4.88 million in available cap space after converting the base salary of defensive end Stephon Tuitt into signing bonus a couple of weeks ago. But they'd like to clear additional space in order to take a run at signing nose tackle Javon Hargrave to a contract extension. Hargrave, like Haden, is slated to become an unrestricted free agent at the conclusion of this season.
Haden is close to returning to the lineup as the Steelers prepare for their third preseason game Sunday at Tennessee.
And he'd like to be out there working at cornerback.
In fact, he sees himself playing cornerback for at least another seven years.
"I could see myself playing for sure past 35. Thirty-six is the golden number," Haden said. "That would be 16 years in. I’m focused for sure. I know I can play 15. So 15, for sure. Once I get there, then we’ll re-evaluate."
He is, however, aware that speed is the key. Haden was never the fastest cornerback to begin with. He ran in the 4.5s at the NFL Scouting Combine back in 2010. Despite that, the Browns used the seventh pick in that draft on the former Florida star.
He's responded with 22 career interceptions and two Pro Bowl berths.
"At corner, once you lose your speed, it’s darn hard to cover these dudes who are straight faster than you," Haden said. "With all the knowledge, you can play off as long as you want. If you want to be able to play press and cover, they just turn into a fade. Speed is the biggest factor as far as corner."
Playing that long could mean making a move to safety. The Steelers have not broached the subject of an eventual shift to safety with Haden. But many cornerbacks have extended their careers into their mid-to-late 30s by moving to that position at some point.
At this point, Haden is on the fence about that.
"I don’t see myself going to safety. I see myself staying at corner. I don’t know. Nah, I’m not trying that," he said.
But that would be a way to extend his career to his 36-year-old target date.
"Oh for sure," he said. "But I like corner. Once they say, ‘Joe, you’re our third corner.’ Then it will be my time."
Then, he gave it some thought.
"I think I could play safety, though. I could be a good one," he said. "Keep me out of the box though."
It was mentioned to him that was how Rod Woodson and Charles Woodson, for example, extended their careers.
"He was free?" Haden said of Woodson. "I’ll try it out though. We’ll see. Let me play at corner as long as I can."
That could be a move the Steelers might want to make with Haden at some point in the future. Free safety Sean Davis, who also is represented by Rosenhaus, also will be an unrestricted free agent after this season. And the Steelers haven't had any real talks on that front about an extension.
That could leave the Steelers with an opening at the position going into 2020. But Haden isn't thinking that far down the line. He's more concerned about what's going to happen with the team -- and his contract -- this year.
"I’m still optimistic. We’ve still got until Sept. 8," Haden said. "It’s something I want to get done for sure."