The NFL is a bottom-line business. Win games, or get out of the way for someone who will.
Everything else-TV ratings, jersey sales, fan excitement-follows that simple rule. And for the Pittsburgh Steelers, that pursuit of winning led to some bold offseason moves by general manager Omar Khan.
Some were calculated risks. Others were flat-out gambles.
But none drew more attention-or more second-guessing-than the decision to bring in veteran cornerback Darius Slay.
At first glance, it looked like a savvy pickup. Slay’s résumé speaks for itself: multiple Pro Bowls, years of top-tier coverage, and a reputation as one of the league’s premier shutdown corners.
He’d been a centerpiece in Detroit, then a key cog in a Philadelphia defense that helped carry the Eagles to a Super Bowl. For Pittsburgh, a team looking to retool its secondary and add veteran leadership, Slay seemed like a perfect fit.
But the NFL isn’t played on paper. And what looked like a steal in the spring turned into a liability by winter.
Slay's stint in black and gold never quite clicked. The instincts were still there, the competitive fire never left-but the physical tools that once made him elite had clearly faded.
The burst, the recovery speed, the ability to mirror top receivers down the field-it just wasn’t the same. And in a league where quarterbacks are faster with their reads and receivers are sharper with their routes, even a half-step slow can be the difference between a pass breakup and a 30-yard gain.
Through ten games, Slay posted 36 tackles and three pass deflections. Respectable numbers on the surface, but they didn’t tell the full story.
He became a target for opposing offenses-literally. Teams schemed to attack him, and more often than not, they found success.
Missed tackles and blown coverages began to pile up. And while no one questioned his effort, the results just weren’t there.
So when the Steelers made the call to waive Slay, it wasn’t just about performance-it was about direction. It was a front office acknowledging reality and choosing to pivot, even if that meant admitting a mistake. And that’s not always easy to do, especially with a player who’s had the kind of career Slay has.
But it was the right move.
Steelers fans had been asking the same question for weeks: Why keep forcing a struggling veteran into the lineup when the results weren’t changing? Slay’s release wasn’t just a roster shake-up-it was a statement.
A sign that Pittsburgh is willing to make tough calls in the name of progress. That they’re not going to let past accolades or big-name reputations cloud their judgment.
And let’s be clear-this wasn’t about disrespect. Slay has had a tremendous career, and there’s no shame in the fact that time eventually catches up to everyone in this league.
He gave what he had. It just wasn’t enough anymore.
Now, Slay gets a fresh start with the Buffalo Bills, where he might still have a role to play-perhaps as a veteran presence in a rotation, or a situational corner in a deep playoff run. But for the Steelers, this was about turning the page.
With Slay out, the team has elevated Asante Samuel Jr. to the 53-man roster. It’s a move that aligns with where Pittsburgh is headed-getting younger, faster, and hopefully more consistent in the secondary.
Samuel brings upside, energy, and a chance to grow into a long-term piece. It’s the kind of forward-thinking move that fans have been craving.
In a season that’s had more downs than ups for the Steelers, this decision feels like a rare win. Not because it fixes everything overnight, but because it shows a willingness to evolve.
To course-correct. To prioritize what’s next over what used to be.
And in the NFL, that’s how teams get better. One tough decision at a time.