The Pittsburgh Steelers made several moves to shore up their secondary in the 2025 offseason. One of those moves included signing veteran cornerback Darius Slay to a one-year deal worth $10 million. Slay had just won a Super Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2024 season, but at 34 years old, his best days may be behind him. The Steelers hoped his experience and leadership would bring stability to a revamped defensive backfield, but things haven’t gone according to plan.
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Steelers' Jalen Ramsey and Darius Slay during their debuts against the New York Jets in 2025.
Slay’s performance has been underwhelming through the first half of the season, with recurring issues like missed tackles, blown coverages, and miscommunication plaguing the secondary. His struggles reached a boiling point during the Steelers’ Week 8 loss to the Green Bay Packers, when he was benched in favor of Brandin Echols in the second half. The move was seen as a statement from Head Coach Mike Tomlin, signaling that the team’s patience may be running thin with the veteran.
On Wednesday, Steelers insider Brooke Pryor revealed in her ESPN article that Slay may now be on the trade block. The idea suggests that Pittsburgh could be looking to move on from the former Pro Bowler in hopes of finding a more consistent option at cornerback. With the trade deadline approaching, the Steelers’ front office could be exploring all possibilities to strengthen a defense that was expected to be among the league’s best but has instead been inconsistent through the first eight weeks.
"Who could be on the move? Cornerback Darius Slay," Pryor said in her article on Wednesday. "He was part of the Steelers' secondary overhaul in the offseason, but he hasn't panned out. Slay, who won a Super Bowl with the Eagles a year ago, has been a significant part of recurring issues like missed tackles, miscommunication and being out of position. Against the Packers this past Sunday, Slay was replaced by Brandin Echols at times in the second half."
Pryor has made it clear that based on everything she has heard from around the team, Slay has been part of the problem. That is concerning, especially considering the Steelers gave him $10 million for the 2025 season with the expectation that he would help solidify the secondary and not contribute to its struggles. The team brought him in for his experience, leadership, and championship pedigree, but instead, his play has only added to Pittsburgh’s defensive frustrations.
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Steelers' Darius Slay during 2025 Organized Team Activities.
On top of that, Slay promised to come in and help mentor rising star Joey Porter Jr., which was one of the reasons Steelers fans were excited about his arrival. Then, when Jalen Ramsey was traded to Pittsburgh, expectations skyrocketed. On paper, the Steelers secondary looked like one of the best in the NFL, stacked with talent, experience, and swagger.
Steelers' Defense Has Been One Of The Worst In The NFL
However, the reality has been far different. The group has underachieved throughout the first half of the season, struggling with communication breakdowns, blown assignments, and missed tackles. What was supposed to be a dominant defensive unit has instead become one of the league’s most disappointing storylines, leaving fans and analysts questioning whether major changes are coming in Pittsburgh.
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Steelers cornerback Darius Slay Jr. (23) during 2025 training camp in Latrobe, PA.
With the trade deadline set for November 4th, the Steelers face some difficult decisions. Moving on from a veteran like Slay would signal a major shift in the secondary and a willingness to admit that offseason plans did not work out as intended.
At the same time, the team will need to weigh the impact on locker room leadership and the mentorship of younger players like Porter. How Pittsburgh handles this situation in the coming weeks could define their season, and fans will be watching closely for moves that could turn around a defense that has so far fallen short of expectations.
Do you think the Steelers should make the move to part ways with cornerback Darius Slay? Why or why not? Let us know in the comments below! Please feel free to share your Steelers takes with me on X @anthonyghalkias and follow me.
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