Let the NFL rumors begin! The Cleveland Browns have cut CB Joe Haden and the Kansas City Chiefs are one of two teams expected to have “strong interest” in him, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Because Haden is a veteran, he is now an unrestricted free agent not subject to waivers. He can sign anywhere after today.
Two teams expected to have strong interest in Joe Haden are the Saints and Chiefs.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 30, 2017
His agent, Drew Rosenhaus, expects this to be a quick visit to the free agent market for Haden.
Joe Haden's agent Drew Rosenhaus on his client: "Tons of interest in him. He will have a new deal with another team by tomorrow afternoon."
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 30, 2017
I wrote about Haden just the other day when these rumors were coming up. He was reportedly on the trade block. I said the Chiefs should not trade for him because, while he would upgrade the defense, it wasn’t worth the big cap hit he had under his previous long-term deal with the Browns.
Now that he’s cut, that cap hit is negotiable in a new deal. Over The Cap has the Chiefs at $8.8 million in salary cap space. That would likely be enough to do a deal the way you can manipulate the cap numbers. The Chiefs are also coming up on cut down weekend when they could shred more veteran salary. Still lots to come...
The Chiefs have a few options at cornerback but they don’t look great right now because of injuries. I think they liked Terrance Mitchell back there but Mitchell has been out almost all of training camp and the preseason. Phillip Gaines has stepped in but there really hasn’t been anyone who has taken hold of that No. 2 cornerback job opposite Marcus Peters. Adding Haden makes the Chiefs defense better, certainly.
Before you get too excited, ask yourself this: Why are the Browns cutting him? I don’t know the answer to that but the Chiefs should find out.