The Baltimore Ravens need to stay away from Joe Haden, who was just released by the Cleveland Browns:
The Baltimore Ravens secondary is finally whole. Tony Jefferson and Eric Weddle make a combination worth envying for 31 other teams. Jimmy Smith and Brandon Carr are solid cornerbacks with experience. Marlon Humphrey and Jaylen Hill are promising rookies. Lardarius Webb is the ultimate insurance plan at the nickel cornerback and free safety positions.
Anytime a two time Pro Bowl cornerback becomes available, it’s someone to think about bringing in. After thinking about the possibility of Joe Haden, the Baltimore Ravens should take a hard pass. Haden is not what he once was. While he’s probably capable of a season or two of decent play, the Ravens don’t have a desperate need at cornerback (something that is nice to finally say).
One man’s trash is another man’s treasure, or at least that’s how the saying goes. However the Ravens should think long and hard about taking leftovers from the Cleveland Browns. The Browns are the ones who typically take in Ravens. First it was Gary Baxter and Jamal Lewis. Then it was Paul Kruger. Its very seldom that a former Brown ends up wearing purple. While the Browns are infamous for bad decision making, if the Browns don’t want him, may be the Ravens shouldn’t either.
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Haden is just the first big name to be axed by his team. Other players may become available and the Ravens don’t have the cap room to go after Haden in the first place. What would fans say if Newsome made it work, brought in Haden and then had to pass on a surprisingly available offensive linemen or veteran wide receiver? The truth is that other than roster cuts, the Ravens are pretty much done making moves.
If the Ravens were able to maneuver any transaction of note, wouldn’t it make sense to do it for the offense. Adam Schefter has reported that the Ravens top rival, the Pittsburgh Steelers are the top team with interest in Haden. It would be a tough pill for the purple and black to swallow if Haden revamped his career with Pittsburgh. That still isn’t a good enough reason to bring in Haden. If the Ravens don’t think Haden is the player he used to be, they should have the courage to let him go elsewhere, even if that is public enemy number one in Baltimore.
The Bottom Line:
The Ravens offense has about as many answers as a child playing 20 questions. The defense has every answer in the deck. It worth repeating, that the Ravens are unlikely to make this move in the first place. Other teams will line up to take a flyer on a cornerback who used to be one of the best in the NFL and Newsome can’t get into a bidding war.
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Even if Haden was the player he was for almost a decade, how much would that move the needle for the Ravens? How much does adding another defensive player really help this team. The Ravens have two young corners in Humphrey and Hill with a lot of promise. There is a ton of talent in the secondary. If a veteran offensive linemen or wide receiver becomes available, we can talk. For now, the Ravens are done making moves.