Joey Porter Jr. Needs All The Information He Can Get From Darius Slay: ‘All the time Going To Be In His Ear’

When the Pittsburgh Steelers made a comparatively massive splash in free company this offseason with the addition of veteran cornerback Darius Slay on a one-year deal coming off a Tremendous Bowl title with the Philadelphia Eagles, their aim was so as to add a veteran presence at a place of want, one who might assist mentor a number of the youthful cornerbacks within the room.

Slay  has embraced that rapidly in Pittsburgh, particularly after doing that final season with the Eagles and a pair of rookies in Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean, who performed main roles within the Eagles profitable the Tremendous Bowl.

Now in Pittsburgh, he’s tasked with serving to mentor third-year cornerbacks Joey Porter Jr. and Cory Trice Jr., to not point out youthful gamers like Beanie Bishop Jr., and rookie seventh-round decide Donte Kent.

Porter, who spoke to reporters Thursday following the ultimate day of obligatory minicamp, is benefiting from having Slay round.

“I instructed him when he acquired right here, I’m at all times [going to] be in his ear,” Porter stated, in keeping with video through Steelers Dwell on X. “It’s just a bit easy dialog we’ve with simply sure performs that I see, or ask him if he’s seen it completely different, or what would you do in these several types of conditions.

“I’m at all times gonna ask him to be in his ear about that and he’s a terrific man, ’trigger he’s at all times gonna give me data on the sport and that’s what he actually desires to do. So it’s been nice.”

Having that kind of veteran presence within the cornerbacks room will probably be key for the Steelers transferring ahead. In fact, they’ve gone this route earlier than with the likes of Patrick Peterson and Donte Jackson in back-to-back years, and the 2 had points with well being and effectiveness.

Slay, although, can nonetheless play and confirmed that final season with the Eagles, notably within the playoffs. He won’t be as bodily gifted as he was earlier in his profession, however he nonetheless wins between the ears and performs with good positioning and the understanding of what offenses are attempting to do.

That data is one thing he can go alongside to the likes of Porter, who has had ups and downs early in his profession.

Shortly after he inked the take care of the Steelers, Slay acknowledged he was wanting ahead to enjoying with the “nice” Porter, who he believes is an up-and-coming younger cornerback who might be among the best within the league.

After mentoring two younger corners final season in Philadelphia, Slay is taking over that function in Pittsburgh and embracing it. To Porter’s credit score, he’s benefiting from it, too. Hopefully that pairing can work effectively collectively this season, play some good soccer and assist set Porter up for long-term success within the NFL.