The Pittsburgh Steelers have long needed a second corner to pair with Joey Porter Jr.
In 2023, that came in the form of veteran corner Patrick Peterson, the once All-World corner tasked with being a versatile mentor. His age-33 was his last in professional football, justified given his struggles on the back end. He was replaced by Donte Jackson, acquired in the Diontae Johnson deal, but he too struggled.
With Johnson signing with the Los Angeles Chargers (joined by former Steelers running back Najee Harris), Pittsburgh once again needs a starting presence on the boundary.
Quickly during the legal tampering period, Philadelphia Eagles corner Darius Slay Jr. became a candidate. He was likely to be cut by Philadelphia for financial reasons, despite his standing in the locker room and his contributions to an elite defense.
On Wednesday, the Eagles followed through with their release, and the Steelers officially signed the Super Bowl champion cornerback in free agency.
According to Adam Schefter, the deal is for one year and a fully-guaranteed $10 million.
Slay, with six Pro Bowls in his last eight seasons, is still viewed as a legitimate starting corner, even as he enters his age-34 season.
In 2024, he logged 13 passes defended, a forced fumble and recovery, 49 tackles, and three tackles for loss. For the first time since his rookie year (2013), he did not record an interception, although that's as likely to be bad luck than any kind of skill regression.
Slay, having spent the vast majority of his snaps on the perimeter, is an easy fit to start opposite Porter. Pittsburgh lacks competition for the spot (albeit early in the offseason), and is more likely to funnel resources into the slot than competition outside.
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According to Over the Cap, at least 26 corners will out-earn Slay by average annual value, including a trio of younger corners who each earned $18 million annually in the early goings of free agency.
Clearly, his price is baked into that, as his talent and production is on par with virtually any other corner in this free agent class. In signing with the Steelers, Slay will hope to once again make an impact in the playoffs. With a strong quarterback signing, Pittsburgh can do its part to ensure he gets that opportunity.
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This story was originally published March 12, 2025 at 2:17 PM.