Earlier this week, the Pittsburgh Steelers picked up cornerback Darius Slay, aiming to fill a gap on their defense. However, Marcus Mosher from The 33rd Team has reservations about how well Slay will fit into the team. In fact, Mosher ranked this acquisition as the seventh-worst move during this year’s free agency.
With Donte Jackson leaving during free agency, Pittsburgh had a glaring need at cornerback. Targeting a seasoned player like Slay wasn’t unexpected. However, at 34 years old, Slay has excelled primarily in zone-heavy defenses, whereas the Steelers under Teryl Austin favor more man-to-man coverage. Such differences raise concerns about how effective Slay will be at this point in his career.
Mosher also pointed out the puzzling decision by the Steelers to opt for Slay on a short-term contract rather than investing in a younger player who could have been a fixture for years to come.
“It’s remarkable that Pittsburgh chose not to lock in a long-term cornerback solution,” Mosher noted. “With Slay signing only for a year, it’s hard to imagine him staying on for his age-35 season in 2026. The Steelers had the financial flexibility to secure a long-term partner for Joey Porter Jr., yet they went with a short-term fix. That’s typically not the choice for a team outside of a Super Bowl contention window.”
Despite concerns, Slay’s past collaboration with Teryl Austin in Detroit might ease his transition into their current system. While they might deploy him in a way that highlights his strengths, the question of forgoing a younger talent in a vibrant cornerback market remains valid.
Money likely played a crucial role in this decision, but the Steelers could’ve pursued multi-year deals with names like D.J. Reed, Carlton Davis, Paulson Adebo, or Byron Murphy. Instead, they followed a previous pattern by bringing on an experienced, older cornerback, similar to their decision two offseasons ago with Patrick Peterson.
Though Slay delivered robust performances last season, it’s reasonable to question why Pittsburgh didn’t secure a longer-term solution, particularly considering other draft needs that could sideline early picks for a top-notch cornerback.
In terms of free agency choices, Slay was the only new addition from Pittsburgh to make this list, while moves involving former Steelers were abundant. For instance, the Los Angeles Chargers’ acquisition of Donte Jackson was ranked as the eighth-worst, the Buffalo Bills’ snagging of DT Larry Ogunjobi came in fourth, and Dan Moore Jr.’s agreement with the Tennessee Titans landed the third spot.
Even if things don’t pan out perfectly with Slay’s involvement in Pittsburgh, the one-year deal minimizes long-term risk. However, this decision to choose Slay over a promising younger cornerback who could have secured a steady role alongside Joey Porter Jr. might haunt the Steelers eventually. But for now, the hope is that Slay can provide valuable mentorship and showcase high-caliber football for the team.
