Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Levi Wallace signed a two-year, $8 million deal with the team early in the off-season. For a starting cornerback, that's not too bad of a deal. For the first time in six years, former Steelers cornerback, Joe Haden won't be suiting up in the historic black and gold uniforms.
Haden remains a free agent, as the front office seemingly made it notable that they wanted to move on from him after the 2021 season. The former Browns CB is now 33 years old, but he had his fair share of elite play in the Steel City. He made the Pro Bowl in 2019 and helped lock down the team's No. 1 corner position for five years. Wallace, who coincidentally replaces Haden in the starting lineup, had this to say on the former Steeler in an interview with Good Morning Football:
"I've been a fan of Joe [Haden] for a long time," Wallace said via GMFB. "Just the way he plays the game, the energy that he brings to the field and to his team, it's second to none."
Photo by Mark Alberti/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The NFL is a business, and the Steelers opted to go for a younger cornerback for 2022 and beyond. With that being said, Haden's presence will surely be missed. Not only did he provide stable, consistent play, but his leadership and overall energy were so helpful to a Steelers defense that, at times, under performed. In his prime, most of which was spent with the Browns, he was seen as one of the best corners in the NFL.
Now, Wallace is tasked with big shoes to fill, and it won't be easy. He will need to replace Haden's grittiness on the field, but also help fill the leadership gap left by Haden. Cam Sutton is the longest-tenured corner in the Steelers secondary, so he will help in that area as well. Wallace, the 27-year-old Alabama product, acknowledges things won't be easy, but he's also had fun with his new teammates.
"I'm just excited to learn defense and play with those new guys - Spoon [Akhello Witherspoon] and Cam [Sutton] and the rest of those guys," Wallace said on Good Morning Football. "You just see how good they bond, it's actually been super fun. I think we look forward to the challenge, and we're ready to get it done."
Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback, Levi Wallace (#29) practices at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex during the 2022 minicamp on Tuesday, June 7, 2022. (Karl Roser/ Pittsburgh Steelers)
Wallace mentioned Sutton and Witherspoon, as those three will head the Steelers cornerback group as the main guys. He's already talked about it just a few months ago, just how much this group enjoys each other. For Pittsburgh's sake, that should only help their performance on the field. The chemistry built in the preseason will go a long way when it comes down to crucial moments in games.
What are your guys' expectations for Levi Wallace this season? How much will Joe Haden be missed in the secondary? Are you confident in the trio of Wallace-Witherspoon-Sutton? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below!
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