Cornerback is officially the new wide receiver for the Eagles. If there is a high-profile cornerback on the trade block, somewhere an Eagles fan thinks the team should go get him.
That is the only explanation for why anybody would want the Eagles to trade for Browns cornerback Joe Haden.
First of all, the Eagles already addressed the corner position with a trade this month, acquiring Ronald Darby from the Bills for Jordan Matthews and a third-round draft pick. Say what you want about Darby, but that was a significant investment, as were second- and third-round choices spent on Sidney Jones and Rasul Douglas in April. Jalen Mills is playing well, and Patrick Robinson, Dexter McDougle, C.J. Smith and Aaron Grymes are all still in the mix as well.
How many cornerbacks do the Eagles need?
But this is Joe Haden! Yeah, so about that…
At one point, Haden was arguably one of top-five corners in the NFL, earning back-to-back Pro Bowl invitations in 2013 and '14. The former seventh-overall selection in the draft recorded 87 pass breakups and 16 interceptions during his first five seasons in the league. He was very good, maybe elite.
Haden has not been the same player since. The 28-year-old always had issues with nagging injuries, but missed 14 games over the past two seasons – nearly a full schedule's worth. No surprise a concussion and groin injuries have corresponded with a massive drop-off in performance. Haden ranked tied for 53rd (with Mills) among corners with a 97.7 opponents' passer rating in coverage in 2016, according to Pro Football Focus, and 76th in adjusted yards per pass, according to Football Outsiders Almanac.
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Whether its injuries, Haden is disinterested after years of losing in Cleveland, or both, this clearly is not the mark of a shutdown corner. However, is he young enough to turn his career around?
It's a fair question, but here's why the real reason the Eagles aren't going to find out: Money.
Haden has two years remaining on his contract at base salaries of $11.1 million in 2017 and $10.4 million in '18, according to Over The Cap. He's set to earn more this season than every cornerback on the Eagles roster combined.
This isn't a matter of the organization being cheap. This is a question of why the Eagles, who have already invested so many draft choices at corner, would send picks to the Browns and pay Haden when he hasn't been healthy or good in over two years?
Even if you could justify such a move, it's completely unnecessary. Haden isn't guaranteed to be an upgrade over Darby or Mills. Haden might not be necessary by the end of this season, once Jones is recovered from a torn Achilles and Douglas is more comfortable with the speed of the game.
A desperate team, likely a championship contender, will give Haden a shot. The Eagles are not desperate at corner anymore, nor is '17 Super Bowl or bust.
Haden could very well become a good player again in the right situation. Should that happen, he'll also be a 30-year-old free agent in two seasons. You really have to struggle to find the upside to this rumor for the Eagles.
Rating the Rumor: Where do people come up with this stuff?
