The philosophy of the Pittsburgh Steelers when it comes to free agents is layered. When a player is entering the final year of his contract, they typically approach it in one of three ways. We are seeing an example of this right now with cornerback Joe Haden as the team is working to get a contract extension done before the start of the regular season when all negotiations come to a halt.
First, don’t misunderstand: We completely endorse the Steelers getting Haden under contract. But the fact the team is not negotiating with defensive tackle Javon Hargrave, as well, could prove to be a mistake.
You can often tell when a player is on the cusp of a breakout and that is the vibe we are getting from Hargrave. Last season was a big year for Hargrave as he racked up 6.5 sacks in a limited role along the defensive line, despite only playing 43.5 percent of snaps.
Pittsburgh is taking a calculated risk by letting Hargrave play this season on his current contract. If he takes another leap forward, the Steelers could end up pricing themselves out of a new deal when Hargrave reaches free agency.
But I want to pass the question off to you. Are you OK with the Steelers not trying to get a new deal done with Hargrave or do you wish they would lock him up long-term before the start of the season?
