Joe Haden released by the Cleveland Browns
By Mike Heck
Joe Haden will be looking for a new home as he has been released by the Cleveland Browns.
Joe Haden’s tenure with the Cleveland Browns has officially come to an end.
On Wednesday morning, the organization announced they have released the veteran cornerback. Haden, who was Cleveland’s first-round draft pick in 2010, will be free to sign with any other team after 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday. The Browns gave Haden a nice tribute on their Twitter page following the news.
“We want to thank Joe for all he has done for this organization both on and off the field,” Sashi Brown, Cleveland’s Executive V.P. of Football Operations said in a statement. “He has been a great teammate and a true asset to the Cleveland community. These are very difficult decisions, we have the utmost respect for Joe and in my eyes, he will always be a Cleveland Brown.”
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Haden was due to be paid $11.1 million this season, $11.2 million in 2018 and another $10.4 million in 2019. Haden’s last pro bowl appearance was in 2014, where he had his career high in tackles with 58, 20 passes defended, along with four interceptions.
Injuries have hampered Haden, who was drafted out of the University of Florida. In 2015, Haden missed 11 games with a finger injury, as well as a concussion. In 2016, Haden required postseason surgery for a groin injury but only ended up missing three games throughout the campaign.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Kansas City Chiefs and the New Orleans Saints are the front-runners to land Haden in their defensive back fields. Haden’s agent Drew Rosenhaus expressed to Schefter that there is “tons of interest” in his client and “will have a new deal with another team by tomorrow afternoon.”
Haden, who signed a five-year contract with the Browns in 2014, will end his run in Cleveland with 19 career interceptions.