$100 million man
CB Haden still excels on field, in elite group financially, too
Joe Haden’s value to the Steelers secondary has been on display since they signed him right before the start of the 2017 season. And it should become even more apparent when the team will try to sign him to a contract extension sometime before or at training camp.
Haden is in rarefied air when it comes to NFL cornerbacks being compensated financially. He will elevate to another level if and when he signs a new deal with the Steelers.
Already, he is one of the few cornerbacks in league history who will have earned $100 million in his career when he plays out the final year of his three-year, $27 million contract this season. The only two cornerbacks to earn more are Darrelle Revis ($124.2 million) and Champ Bailey ($102.75 million), according to ESPN.
Haden said he likely will tie Bailey at the end of this season. Throw in a new deal that most likely will run through the 2021 season and — given the going rate for cornerbacks — Haden could eclipse Revis by the time he is done.
“Never, never, never did I
think that would happen,” Haden said. “Honestly, it’s just such a blessing. When we say this stuff, I had no idea I had been able to do that. Financially, I can do whatever I want to do. I can take care of my family, my loved ones. I don’t have to worry about money. It’s crazy to talk about.”
Haden said he hasn’t had any discussions with the Steelers about a new contract, but he expects that will come later, probably around the time the team reports to training camp July 25.
His base salary for this season will be $10 million, and it will count $11,916,000 against the salary cap for the second year in a row. But even though he turned 30 April 14, an age where teams might be reluctant to invest big money in a cornerback, the Steelers appear to have no reservations.
It will be the fourth contract signed by Haden since he was the seventh overall pick of the Cleveland Browns in 2010. After his rookie contract, the Browns signed him to a five-year, $67.5 million deal in 2014.
“It just goes to show that if you go about things the right way, treat people the way you want to be treated, be blessed to be healthy ... doing things the right way works for you,” Haden said Thursday after the final practice of the three-day minicamp. “And I still love playing the game. I still enjoy it. God has blessed me with the ability to play this long and get contracts.”
Haden has invested his money in side businesses, including his own shoe store, which reflects his love of sneakers. He said he has more than 1,200 pairs of sneakers, which he has been collecting since high school. Most of those, he said, are Jordan and Nike shoes. Haden said he has bought most of the shoes in his collection, though the contract he signed with Nike four years ago has helped stock his supply.
“I got a lot of shoes,” said Haden, who estimated he probably wears about 400 of them.
He also was given a new partner at cornerback, Steve Nelson, who was signed to a three-year, $25.5 million deal in free agency. After having little success drafting cornerbacks, the Steelers have gone outside to invest in them in a big way.
“I like him, his technique,” Haden said of Nelson. “He’s ball-savvy, he’s smart, he understands the game very well, he’s caught onto the defense very, very fast. He asks a lot of questions, too. He likes to find out the way I see things, what I’m looking at, and I’m asking him the same. I can’t wait till we get to training camp to really see him with the pads on.”
Nelson, who started 38 of 40 games the past three seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs, was brought in because the Steelers thought they could no longer rely on former No. 1 pick Artie Burns to be a starter. Nelson had four interceptions in 2018 and third in the league with 17 passes defensed.
“I look forward to helping out this team every chance I can,” Nelson said. “Joe has always been one of my favorite corners, ever since college. It’s a good opportunity to learn from him and be around him every day.”
Nelson’s addition isn’t the only reason Haden said he is excited about the Steelers defense this season. He also liked the moves to sign hybrid linebacker/safety Mark Barron and trade up to draft Devin Bush with the 10th overall pick.