When the Pittsburgh Steelers signed cornerback Darius Slay to a one-year, $10 million deal in free agency, they had visions of him elevating the secondary and improving its play, particularly in coverage.
Seven games into the 2025 season, Slay has been nothing short of a disappointment. Now, he’s seeing his snaps reduced.
In the Steelers’ Week 8 loss to the Green Bay Packers, Slay split time with Brandin Echols, and now his effort is being questioned. And rightfully so, too.
On the 8-yard touchdown pass from Packers QB Jordan Love to Savion Williams, Slay didn’t give any effort in trying to stop Wiliams short of the goal line, allowing the rookie wide receiver to sneak inside the pylon for the score.
That came one week after he didn’t even attempt to tackle Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins at the end of his 29-yard touchdown.
“Listen, those type of things, I just don’t even know how you go on,” former Steelers running back Merril Hoge said of Slay’s effort Thursday on the 102.5 WDVE Morning Show, according to audio via DVE. “Here’s what disturbs me: How do you go into your meeting room with your peers and watch it? I just, honestly, I don’t even know. I’ve never been there, and I’m glad for that because that’s not how you play football.”
Shortly after tight end Tucker Kraft’s stunning 59-yard catch and run in the third quarter bailed Green Bay out of what should have been a failed third-down conversion, the Steelers defense had a chance to tighten up and make a stand, keeping the drive from becoming disastrous.
Six plays after the Kraft catch, the defense found itself facing a 2nd and goal at the 8-yard line.
Love swung a short pass to Williams, and with a convoy in front, Williams was able to get to the pylon. Slay was unblocked on the play and had a chance to stick his face in there and try to knock Williams out at the 1-yard line.
Instead, Slay conceded.
Take a look.
Just poor effort from Slay. You can’t hide that on tape.
It’s there, it’s plain as day, and it’s ugly.
After that, Slay played just six more defensive snaps in the loss to the Packers. Was he largely tied to the bench due to that effort? We’ll never know, but it was telling after the game when players like Cameron Heyward and Joey Porter Jr. criticized the lack of fight from the defense.
Could that have been directed at Slay? It’s possible.
Again, this is the second week in a row Slay has turned down a tackle near the goal line.
So, effort is a question with Slay, as is production.
He’s struggling mightily in coverage. According to Pro Football Focus, Slay has allowed 23 receptions on 32 targets for 322 yards and three touchdowns. He doesn’t have an interception and has recorded just three pass breakups. He’s also missed eight tackles this season and has the highest missed tackles rate (22.9%) on the team.
Things are not going well for Slay on the field and based on what he has shown in recent weeks from an effort standpoint, it can’t be going all that well in the film room, either.
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