The Pittsburgh Steelers have had a quiet offseason, aside from the massive DK Metcalf trade. They have signed just a few depth players as free agents and are still searching for a starting quarterback.
They finally made a splash Wednesday afternoon, officially signing former Detroit Lions and Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Darius Slay Jr. It was reported days before that they had an agreement in place, but Slay wasn't officially released until the new league year began.
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter on Wednesday, the deal is a one-year, fully-guaranteed $10 million contract. Considering all of the other high-profile corners on the market have been signing deals worth $16 million or more per season, the price is certainly good for a player who was still excellent in his age-33 season in 2024.
The Steelers needed a corner opposite Joey Porter Jr., and Slay gives them that, at least for 2025.
Pittsburgh Steelers still have work to do after signing Darius Slay Jr. in free agency
Even though the Steelers desperately needed an upgrade at cornerback, it's a risky move to choose Slay as that player. He was still excellent in 2024, despite turning 34 late in the season, ranking 12th among starting corners in coverage grade, according to Pro Football Focus.
Even if he hasn't fallen off a cliff up to this point, few positions see a sharper age decline than corner. He is already in rare air playing as well as he did at 33, let alone 34, on a new team. Guys like Darelle Revis, Stephon Gilmore, and Patrick Peterson are just a few recent examples of players who fell off a cliff at this age.
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Adding the five-time Pro Bowler to the roster does bring valuable experience and championship pedigree coming off a Super Bowl victory with the Philadelphia Eagles, if nothing else. The hope is that he will hold up in his one season with the Steelers while mentoring their young corners.
This move shouldn't keep them from adding more depth at corner in the event Slay is washed up. The market is pretty dry after the first few days of free agency, but someone like Asante Samuel Jr., for example, could be a nice addition for cheap.