The Cleveland Browns have made it known they’re actively shopping two-time Pro Bowler CB Joe Haden.
News broke Tuesday morning that the Browns are very motivated to move CB Joe Haden, per Jason La Canfora. The team, who hasn’t reached the playoffs since 2002, decided they would find more value in a high-round pick other than the 28-year old corner.
Plagued with injury the past few seasons, the former Florida Gator is an elite-level talent when healthy. Tallying 19 interceptions so far in his seven year career, including 377 tackles.
With three of the five years remaining on his contract, this isn’t a “one-and-done” type scenario for Haden and the team that chooses to acquire him. His contract does $14.4 million in damage to a teams salary.
Would it make sense for the Buccaneers to trade for Haden?
Tampa Bay was 22nd in the league in passing defense in 2016. Year one for both veteran Brent Grimes and rookie Vernon Hargreaves on the Bucs roster, it could’ve gone worse for the team, but improvement is needed.
Nickelback Jude Adjei-Barimah is currently sidelined due to an ongoing patellar fracture, dating back to last season. Beyond that, the Bucs’ secondary is full of inexperienced players, and for a team that is looking to make a deep playoff run, adding another solid veteran would be deadly for the team.
The major red flag is the amount of star talent the Bucs currently have, that they must resign in the next two offseasons:
QB Jameis Winston, WR Mike Evans, MLB Kwon Alexander, C/G Ali Marpet are just the big names the Bucs must bring back to the team in the next two seasons.
GM Jason Licht and head coach Dirk Koetter may put some thought into the move, but with the September 3rd cuts just five days away, minds are focused on the current team.
The move would make sense, yes, if the team doesn’t over buy. Tampa Bay sits well where they are, but they have no depth in their secondary. Adding Joe Haden would make this defense a lot scarier, but you need to account for expiring contracts on the current roster. I don’t believe the move to bring Haden in will be made.
Teams that have a dire need of secondary help not including Tampa Bay are: the Saints, Packers, Panthers, Cowboys and Colys. Just to name a few.
