LATROBE, Pa. -- The chips are beginning to fall into place for the Steelers.
Around noon on Thursday, the team announced it had signed Mike Tomlin to a one-year contract extension, giving the head coach the reins through 2021.
Later in the day, cornerback Joe Haden arrived and said the Steelers have opened talks with his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, on an extension beyond the 2019 season, as well.
"We're working on that, trying to figure out what's going on," Haden said. "Me and Drew and Kevin (Colbert). We're communicating, so that's a good thing."
That had not been the case just a few weeks ago, as the Steelers took a step back to assess where they were at following their offseason program.
Now, with training camp set to begin here Friday at Saint Vincent College, things seem to be ramping up a bit.
Haden, for one, was excited to learn the team had extended Tomlin.
"They did?," he asked when told it had happened. "Yes!"
He was then asked if there was anyone else who needed an extension.
"You're looking at him," Haden replied with a laugh.
Getting the 30-year-old Haden signed to a new deal has been on the back burner for the Steelers all offseason. The team's top cornerback is entering the final year of a three-year, $27-million contract signed prior to the 2017 season after he was surprisingly released by the Browns.
Haden is slated to earn $10 million this season in base salary, and the Steelers would love to sign him to an extension that would both lock him up for at least two more years while also lowering his 2019 cap hit of $11.9 million. The Steelers currently have just $985,000 in available salary cap space, so creating some additional room is a must.
In two seasons with the Steelers, Haden has made 26 starts, picking off three passes, including a team-high two last season. He's missed six games — five in 2017 with a fractured bone in his leg, and one last season because of a hamstring injury.
He said he feels great coming into this camp because he did have a full offseason without any issues, having played in 15 games last season.
Interestingly enough, Haden is one of three members of the starting secondary who are entering the final year of their contracts. And all three are represented by Rosenhaus. Free safety Sean Davis and nickel corner Mike Hilton are the others.
But it's unlikely the Steelers can sign any other players until they work something out with Haden. That's why his contract is so critical.
"I try not to worry about it, but I'm optimistic," Haden said. "We're working on it."
LOLLEY'S VIEW
This is something that has to get done to allow the team the room it needs to make any other moves without simply releasing a veteran player. And that is something the team doesn't want to have to do.
Additionally, Haden is a guy this team is counting on to be a leader, not only on the field, but off it.
I would expect something to get done on this in the next few days, with the addition of at least a couple of years on Haden's contract, saving the team around $5 million or so on this year's salary cap.
MATT SUNDAY GALLERY
Steelers reporting day, Latrobe, Pa., July 25, 2019 - MATT SUNDAY / DKPS