Is Cleveland Browns’ Joe Haden Still A 1st-Tier Corner?
In light of his recent ankle surgery, should the new Browns regime look to move Haden while he still has top-tier value?
KRIS: Analytically, the right move might be to trade Joe Haden. Why? Well, the guy is obviously starting to break down. Last season Haden pushed through injury after injury, and was ineffective when he was on the field. Then throw in his most recent surgery, and it looks like Haden is starting the 2016 season on the sidelines, just like he did 2015.. For a team that’s in a deep rebuild, Haden’s trade value could bring back larger assets. Good corners are hard to find. Teams might give up big draft pick packages to get him. Do I want them to do it? No, but I liken his situation to that of Grady Sizemore formerly of the Cleveland Indians. It might be time to trade Haden for something, before his deteriorating body leaves us with nothing in 4-5 years.
JOE: I don’t like the idea of trading Joe Haden. Sure, I understand that his value right now is about as good as it might get with his injury history and negative trends in his play. But Haden also represents the likely top corner on the roster with very little quality depth behind him. I’d be far more comfortable drafting a corner with an early pick (cough cough, Jalen Ramsey, cough cough) and allowing Haden to regain value while also boosting the talent on the roster by mentoring said draftee. If Haden were only a little bigger, moving up to free safety might be an option as well. At least there Haden would be able to put his ball skills and willingness to make tackles to use and hide some of his other deficiencies.
KRIS: Yeah Joe, I’m definitely not for trading Haden. I don’t like the idea because of the holes already created in the secondary, but I can see scenarios where the Browns might seek out his value. The prior regime did with Joe Thomas, and if the price is right, I just wouldn’t put it past this regime. They could look at Jalen Ramsey as a replacement for Haden and use Haden to secure a late first-round pick from a veteran team. That said though, I’d love the idea of a Haden-Ramsey secondary. Maybe that duo could fulfill the dreams I once had where a Gilbert-Haden backfield rivaled that of Minnefield and Dixon.
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JOE: If there’s a team at the bottom of the first round that feels Haden puts them over the top as a Super Bowl contender, make that trade every day of the week! That’s the only way you can replace the value of a guy like Haden with some developmental talent.
Granted, we said the same thing about Justin Gilbert, too. Gilbert himself might actually surprise people because Ray Horton is a very different type of coordinator than Jim O’Neil. He has much more experience and a much stronger grasp of what makes players bring out their best on the field. Imagine if Horton can get Justin Gilbert to figure it out, even if it’s just enough to be a legit third corner? That helps this team tremendously. That would allow Haden to not worry as much about the supporting cast around him and focus on his job. It’s a win for all involved
Next: Making The Case For Carson Wentz
Have your say on Haden. What do you expect from him in 2016? Would you prefer the Browns try and trade him sooner than later?