Quarterback Aaron Rodgers wasn't the only significant veteran addition this offseason for the Pittsburgh Steelers. The organization was able to make major moves at cornerback as it traded for three-time All-Pro Jalen Ramsey and signed six-time Pro Bowl selection Darius Slay. Together, the duo has brought a world of experience and steadiness to Head Coach Mike Tomlin's defense.
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Steelers' Jalen Ramsey and Darius Slay during their debuts against the New York Jets in 2025.
The 34-year-old Slay recently spoke to the Pittsburgh media about his relationship with Ramsey, which goes back almost a decade.
"I've been knowing Ramsey since he was a rook... We've been chatting for a long time, man," Slay explained. "We're good friends... I wish this would've happened when we were younger, so we could be a different type of beast."
Before they became teammates this season, Slay and Ramsey had been two of the best players at their respective positions for a long time. Despite starting out with struggling franchises (Slay on the Detroit Lions and Ramsey on the Jacksonville Jaguars), it was clear that both were going to be stars in the game for much or all of their respective careers.
Slay helped the Philadelphia Eagles reclaim the Super Bowl last season and was a key piece of their defense, as he recorded 13 pass deflections in 14 games. In 9 of his 13 career NFL seasons (2013-2019 with Lions, 2020-2024 with Eagles), the former Mississippi State Bulldogs standout recorded 13+ pass deflections. He also led the league in interceptions in 2017 (8).
Ramsey, much like Slay, has also been a player that opposing offenses have to account for both in the film room and on the field. A Super Bowl LVI champion with the Los Angeles Rams in 2021, the 30-year-old has been able to make a great impact wherever he has been during his strong career. He has never had a season without an interception in his now decade-long career. His 25 career interceptions are good for fourth on the list of active players right behind Slay.
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Steelers cornerbacks Jalen Ramsey (5) and Darius Slay (23) stand on the playing surface as the team gets ready to work out during a 2025 training camp practice at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
Together, these two form one of the nastier cornerback combinations in the league. As the weather starts to change, quarterbacks could be a little hesitant to throw at them, which is part of the reason why the Steelers could be in prime position to contend for a Super Bowl. After five games, it certainly appears that way. The Steelers currently sit atop the AFC North with a record of 4-1 after recording 10 takeaways, which is tied for third-best in the NFL.
Steelers Look to Shut Down Bengals on Thursday Night
Fresh off a 23-9 victory over the rival Cleveland Browns at home on Sunday afternoon, the Steelers will now travel to face the Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday Night Football. The Bengals themselves are coming off their fourth loss of the season, which came at the hands of the Green Bay Packers, after starting their third different quarterback of the season (Joe Flacco).
Regardless of the Bengals' early-season woes, Steelers Defensive Coordinator Teryl Austin is going to have to come up with a gameplan on how his defensive backs are going to stick with Bengals star wide receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Chase is perhaps the best wide receiver in all of football after making four Pro Bowls in his first four NFL seasons, and he is coming off an incredible performance against the Packers in which he caught 10 passes for 94 yards and a touchdown. Higgins on the other hand is Robin to Chase's Batman. A two-time 1,000-yard wide receiver, Higgins would likely be the top wide receiver on almost any other NFL team. The former Clemson star caught five passes for 62 yards in Sunday's loss.
Kareem Elgazzar / Cincinnati Enquirer
Cincinnati Bengals WR Ja'Marr Chase attempting to make a catch against the Steelers' defense.
In order for the Steelers to come away with another divisional win, locking down both Chase and Higgins will be extremely key. That is why the organization made the moves in the offseason that it did to bring in both Slay and Ramsey. Games like this will test the back end of the Steelers' defense, but the experience of both starting cornerbacks should give Pittsburgh more than a chance to survive on the road on Thursday night.
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