New Steelers CB Darius Slay Enters 12 months 13 – Can He Nonetheless Play?

The Pittsburgh Steelers have signed CB Darius Slay, previously of the Tremendous Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles. Right this moment’s aim is to see if the seasoned veteran’s play in protection has trailed off from a stats perspective, and what it might imply for the Metal Metropolis in 2025.

First, let’s take a look at targets and Professional Soccer Focus (PFF) protection grades:

Right here we see that Slay was nicely above the imply in each, in contrast to 2024 Steelers qualifiers. He was focused 87 instances (T-Seventeenth most), and graded thirteenth finest in protection (75.5). These marks are out of 88 qualifying corners final season (min. 350 protection snaps). To this point, it seems that Slay was a plus contributor to 1 the perfect defenses within the NFL.

Joey Porter Jr. had the one different above the imply consequence, being focused an above common 79 instances (thirty first). All Steelers qualifiers had nicely beneath common grades, together with the departed Donte Jackson, who Slay will hopefully be an improve over.

Subsequent, let’s dive into manufacturing. Listed here are catch charges allowed and compelled incompletions:

As soon as once more, Slay lands nicely above 2024 Pittsburgh CBs, and many of the league. His 17 pressured incompletions tied for probably the most within the NFL, together with a stellar 51.7 catch price allowed that ranked third-best final yr. Being high three in each is sort of spectacular, and an superior indisputable fact that illustrates his play hasn’t deteriorated (knocks on wooden).

This consists of the second most go breakups within the NFL, making life for opposing vast receivers tougher than most at his place. For comparability, Porter had eight pressured incompletions, round league-average. Jackson had the perfect completion price allowed of 2024 Steelers, however was unable to pressure incompletions.

A hope for Slay in 2025 will hopefully be cashing in on interceptions, with only one within the common/postseason. Jackson had 5 INTs, rating fourth within the NFL final yr. This might be icing on the cake for Slay, who was clearly the higher protection nook in any other case.

Yet one more necessary stat I checked out was tackling. Listed here are protection tackles and missed sort out charges:

As soon as once more, Slay lands above the imply in each. His 49 protection tackles tied for 14th with a number of gamers, together with Porter. Seeing all three present Steelers land on the highest proper is encouraging, after enduring the missed tackles from Pittsburgh’s protection final yr.

This included Jackson, who lands on the acute decrease left of the visible, one of many worst high quality/amount tacklers in 2024. Whereas decrease alternatives didn’t qualify him, Cory Trice Jr. additionally was a optimistic on this regard, with no missed tackles in protection final season.

So, the Steelers have refreshingly added a seasoned veteran to the cornerback room. Regardless of his years, Slay’s protection play has been getting old like tremendous wine. This aligns with our Alex Kozora’s latest Darius Slay Movie Room, encouragingly. Father time is undefeated, however Pittsburgh simply added a participant who will hopefully defy it as soon as once more and improve Pittsburgh’s protection protection in 2025.