While all the attention is on what the Pittsburgh Steelers will do at quarterback after trading for superstar receiver D.K. Metcalf and signing him to a massive $150 million extension, the Steelers have added a veteran free-agent cornerback to help solidify that room.

Super Bowl champion Darius Slay is signing with the Steelers, per Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports. Slay was recently released by the Eagles after helping Philadelphia defeat the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX.

Slay took a slightly lesser role in 2024 with the emergence of Quinyon Mitchell as the team’s top cornerback. That said, he is a six-time Pro Bowler and a former All-Pro whose veteran presence will add a lot to the room. We’ve seen the Steelers make this exact type of move before when they signed Patrick Peterson in 2023. Slay remains in the state of Pennsylvania, crossing over to Pittsburgh and hopefully providing both veteran leadership and quality play.

The former second-round pick will be entering his age-34 season, coming off his first season without an interception dating back to his rookie year (2013). He did, however, tally a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and 49 tackles (3 tackles for a loss). Despite his lack of interceptions in 2024, Slay earned a 75.5 PFF coverage grade this past season, which ranked 16th among cornerbacks with 250+ coverage snaps. He tied to lead that cohort with 17 forced incompletions while allowing the fifth-lowest catch rate in coverage among such CBs at 51.7%, per PFF.

Presumably, barring a splash play for a pro-ready cornerback in the draft, Slay will play opposite third-year cornerback Joey Porter Jr. along the perimeter. Veteran Donte Jackson, who played opposite Porter last season, is set to become a free agent at the start of the new league year.