With a 6-6 record and a quickly fading chance of an AFC North title that looked like a guarantee just a few weeks ago, the Pittsburgh Steelers' busy offseason has come under fire. Massive trades for DK Metcalf and Jalen Ramsey and the free agent additions of Aaron Rodgers and Darius Slay infused plenty of talent and experience into a roster that won 10 games in 2024. The thought (as is usual for Pittsburgh) was to try and make one more strong run with this aging roster.
Instead, those moves have largely failed to make a significant impact. A positive one, at least.
Metcalf has failed to prop up a lackluster receiving core, Ramsey had to move to safety due to injuries/declining athleticism, and Rodgers has slowed down tremendously after a solid start to the season. Slay was maybe the most disappointing, as the 34-year-old corner has looked his age this season. Injuries and a steep drop off in his speed made him unplayable at times, and now the Steelers have chosen to move forward without him.
Steelers cut ties with former All-Pro corner Darius Slay after failed partnership
The recently signed Asante Samuel Jr. appears to be stepping into Slay's spot on the roster, as Pittsburgh signed him to the active roster from their practice squad after officially releasing Slay. It's a move that was a long time coming, as the $10 million price tag for the former Detroit Lions and Philadelphia Eagles star looked like a huge mistake right from the get-go.
He allowed nearly 400 yards and three touchdowns on 40 targets in his area this season, according to Pro Football Focus. The tape doesn't tell a more encouraging story, as his lack of juice was evident from his first snap of the year.
It's no indictment on Slay himself, as the vast majority of corners don't make it past 30 in the NFL. Even legends like Darrelle Revis and Patrick Peterson (who ironically was a Steeler himself) were no longer effective by that age, so there is no shame in not having it anymore as he approaches 35.
The real problem was that the Steelers somehow believed that they could get another season out of him. He was solid in 2024 for the Eagles, but he played in a far more talented and better-coached defense that knew how to protect him. Pittsburgh couldn't replicate that environment, and it led to his dismissal.
His status as a healthy scratch in Week 13 was an obvious sign that his days were numbered, but it was still a bit surprising to see the Steelers admit their mistake. Still, it was a move that had to happen, and now, younger and less expensive corners will get their chance to show what they have over the last five weeks of the season.