The Pittsburgh Steelers are expected to sign former Cleveland Browns cornerback Joe Haden to a three-year, $27-million contract, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.
Schefter adds Haden had received more lucrative offers from other teams, but he wanted to go to Pittsburgh.
Cleveland had offered to cut Haden's 2017 salary from $11 million to $7 million, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. After rejecting the deal, Haden was cut from the Browns and will now make the same amount in his first season with the Steelers.
Haden has played just one 16-game season in his seven-year career - his rookie season - and was limited to just 18 contests over his final two campaigns with the Browns.
In 13 games in 2016, his play dropped off considerably, recording a career low of 48 combined tackles. He received a Pro Football Focus grade of just 46.0, particularly struggling in pass coverage and ranking 88th at his position.
The Steelers' returning top three cornerbacks of William Gay, Ross Cockrell, and Artie Burns ranked 18th, 27th, and 38th among qualified corners, respectively. The depth addition should still help improve an average pass defense which allowed 242.6 net passing yards per game last season.
Still just 28 years old, the Steelers will hope to help get the former seventh overall pick back to the elite shutdown form he showed in his rookie season when grabbing a career-best six interceptions.
The Steelers and Browns will open their respective seasons against each other with a Week 1 meeting in Cleveland.
