Steelers Reportedly Add Six-Time Pro Bowler To Defense

Darius Slay is staying in Pennsylvania.

But the six-time Pro Bowler won’t be playing for the Philadelphia Eagles anymore.

Instead, the 34-year-old Slay is taking his talents to the cross-state rival Pittsburgh Steelers. Slay agreed to a one-year contract worth $10 million to join the Steelers, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Schefter noted Slay’s deal is fully guaranteed.

Slay is coming off a five-year run with the Eagles, which culminated with a victory in Super Bowl LIX. He was an integral piece to Philadelphia’s secondary, but he’s not at the height of his powers anymore and the Eagles decided to release the 2013 second-round pick as a cap casualty.

Slay failed to record an interception this past season for the first time since his rookie campaign, but did come up with 13 passes defended. He also only allowed opposing quarterbacks to complete 54.7% of their passes when targeting him, one of the top marks for his career.

Slay will now slot into a stout Steelers defense across from fellow cornerback Joey Porter Jr. The Steelers fielded the eighth-worst pass defense in the league last season and adding Slay to the secondary should help shore up that part of the unit.

The veteran corner has a strong admiration for Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin and Slay revealed he almost joined the Steelers two years ago

“Mike Tomlin, one of the best coaches in the NFL, man,” Slay said on his “Big Play Slay” podcast in December, as transcribed by “What’s so crazy is I almost was going to them, too. They hit me up, too. T.J. Watt text me, Cam Heyward text me, and they talked about me coming there. Before I ever got to make a decision, they signed Pat Pete, so they kind of chilled out for a minute. But I was almost a Pittsburgh Steeler as well.”

Slay can take the almost part out now as his 13th NFL season will come in a Steelers uniform.

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