The Pittsburgh Steelers need to be aggressive during the 2025 offseason in order to fix some obvious holes on the roster. The quarterback position must be addressed, as should wide receiver and cornerback. Hopefully those positions are upgraded prior to the start of the 2025 season, but optimism shouldn't be too high as those were all positions of weakness going into the 2024 season. General Manager Omar Khan has been more aggressive in free agency than Kevin Colbert ever was, and he should be looking to make some splashes once again.
The Steelers should have plenty of options to upgrade the cornerback position alongside Joey Porter Jr., as they could attack the position through the 2025 NFL Draft or free agency. If free agency is the route the organization wishes to go, a player like Darius Slay would be intriguing. Slay has one year left on his deal with the Philadelphia Eagles, but it is likely he could be released as a cap casualty of sorts. He is preparing to play in the NFC Championship Game on Sunday, and he told Philadelphia reporter Ashlyn Sullivan that he is preparing for it be his last home game at Lincoln Financial Field.
"Darius Slay is preparing for Sunday to be his last home game at Lincoln Financial field," Sullivan wrote. "Slay told me this week after having conversations with his family, he is 85 percent leaning towards playing one more season, but understands it most likely won’t be with the Eagles. When I asked him about the emotion of playing his last home game this weekend, he said he isn’t allowing himself to get caught up in the future."
Slay is currently 34-years old, and he has had an incredible career in the NFL. The cornerback was once a First Team All-Pro, and he has been named a Pro-Bowler six times. His veteran leadership could be incredibly valuable in Pittsburgh with a rising star like Porter who needs to refine some of technique. Slay's comments make it seem like he understands he will likely be released, which would allow him to sign wherever he chooses for his final season in the league.
Slay may be nearing the end of his career, but he is still an effective player. He has never missed more than five games in a season, and in two playoff games he has recorded an interception and four pass breakups for the Eagles. The 2024 season was Slay's 12th year in the league, and he made it clear he doesn't plan to play more than one more season when speaking with Sullivan.
"Slay confirms he will definitely not play more than 13 seasons in the NFL and looks forward to watching Eagles games from a box, not in the snow, in the near future," Sullivan wrote.
The veteran has the desire to play through the 2025 season, but he is accepting that it will not be with the Eagles. That may change depending how the 2024 season ends for Philadelphia as they are the current odds-on favorite to win Super Bowl LIX.
Steelers Have Been After Darius Slay's Services Before
Pittsburgh obviously missed out on Slay, and the organization wound up signing Patrick Peterson instead. The Steelers may be able to have another chance at Slay if he is in fact released by Philadelphia.
