{"id":257228,"date":"2025-12-02T17:52:13","date_gmt":"2025-12-02T22:52:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/?p=257228"},"modified":"2025-12-02T17:52:13","modified_gmt":"2025-12-02T22:52:13","slug":"steelers-cut-former-six-time-pro-bowler-darius-slay-possible-landing-spots-emerge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2025\/12\/02\/steelers-cut-former-six-time-pro-bowler-darius-slay-possible-landing-spots-emerge\/","title":{"rendered":"Steelers Cut Former Six-Time Pro Bowler; Possible Landing Spots Emerge"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>After spending less than a season with the Pittsburgh Steelers, the team has cut veteran cornerback Darius Slay. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/nfl\/profootballtalk\/rumor-mill\/news\/steelers-cut-darius-slay-add-asante-samuel-jr-to-active-roster\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">According to the breaking news<\/a>, the Steelers are moving on from the former All-Pro as he intends to still play in the league at age 34. With the recent release, the Steelers will add <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2021\/04\/24\/2021-nfl-draft-asante-samuel-jr-player-profile\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">former Chargers cornerback Asante Samuel Jr.<\/a> to the starting lineup, so it makes sense that they announced the sudden departure. Slay now joins several free agents available in the market in a sweet time of December, right before the postseason begins next month.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_220488\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-220488\" style=\"width: 974px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-220488\" src=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/03\/Eagles-release-darius-slay-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"Eagles release darius slay\" width=\"974\" height=\"649\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/03\/Eagles-release-darius-slay-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/03\/Eagles-release-darius-slay-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/03\/Eagles-release-darius-slay-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/03\/Eagles-release-darius-slay-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/03\/Eagles-release-darius-slay-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/03\/Eagles-release-darius-slay-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/03\/Eagles-release-darius-slay-1200x800.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 974px) 100vw, 974px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-220488\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Main Photo: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>Steelers Cut Former Six-Time Pro Bowler Darius Slay; Possible Landing Spots Emerge<\/h2>\n<p>Originally selected as a former second-round pick, the former Mississippi State product began his career with the Detroit Lions, becoming one of the best defensive backs in the league. Slay co-led the league in interceptions in 2017 and was named his first All-Pro in the same season. After having one of the most illustrious tenures with the Lions and Eagles while helping Philadelphia win a Super Bowl last season, the cornerback should receive plenty of interest.<\/p>\n<p>He isn&#8217;t the same player he once was, but he could fill the void on teams that need another cornerback as a veteran presence. Slay indicated earlier this offseason that this season could be his last, and these four teams could give him one last run before he hangs it up.<\/p>\n<h2>Possible Next Teams<\/h2>\n<h3>Philadelphia Eagles<\/h3>\n<p>A return to the Eagles would be a no-brainer for both sides, and this possible landing spot would be the first on his wishlist. The Eagles haven&#8217;t had a lot of luck with Adoree&#8217; Jackson performing up to standards as a backup corner for Cooper DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell. After <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/athletic\/6799515\/2025\/11\/11\/jaire-alexander-steps-away-retirement-eagles-nfl\/#:~:text=Philadelphia%20Eagles%20cornerback%20Jaire%20Alexander%20has%20informed,by%20placing%20Alexander%20on%20the%20Reserve\/Retired%20List.\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">losing Jaire Alexander due to stepping away from football activities<\/a>, it&#8217;s fair to say that the team is still in the market for a cornerback.<\/p>\n<p>Slay won&#8217;t be the same when he returns, but it&#8217;s better than what the team has, as they need to find a replacement for Jackson in the worst possible way.<\/p>\n<h3>Detroit Lions<\/h3>\n<p>Meanwhile, Slay could end his career where he started. The Lions are having injury and consistency issues at the cornerback position once again, and with <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2024\/03\/05\/terrion-arnold-2024-nfl-draft-profile\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">Terrion Arnold<\/a> now out for the season, Slay could play a crucial role at the starting position again and push Detroit into the playoffs. At 7-5, he might be the final piece that the Lions are looking for as far as making themselves legitimate contenders.<\/p>\n<h3>Dallas Cowboys<\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dallascowboys.com\/news\/trevon-diggs-feels-100-better-hopes-to-play-vs-lions\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">While Trevon Diggs is planning to come back<\/a>, there&#8217;s no guarantee that he will perform like his old self. The former 2021 All-Pro hasn&#8217;t been the same since suffering a multitude of injuries, and the Cowboys have been struggling to find the next man up. They had a chance to acquire Minkah Fitzpatrick, but instead got Logan Wilson and Quinnen Williams to strengthen the interior and linebacker group. Slay might be the missing puzzle piece to a well-rounded team in Dallas.<\/p>\n<h3>Los Angeles Rams<\/h3>\n<p>Slay doesn&#8217;t need to start. He could join the Rams in a backup role to help both Emmanuel Forbes and <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2022\/03\/16\/darious-williams-signs-contract\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">Darious Williams<\/a>. The Rams have one of the most talented offenses, but they could use some depth on defense. Slay joining the Rams should get them back in the Super Bowl.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Pittsburgh Steelers are reportedly moving on from the veteran former All-Pro and these four teams could acquire him. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4795,"featured_media":257230,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[36,19,24,34,6431,21,9],"tags":[7422,832,7467,9843,7473,7393,7366,9775,32285,5267],"class_list":["post-257228","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nfl-news","category-cowboys","category-lions","category-rams","category-nfl-teams","category-eagles","category-steelers","tag-dallas-cowboys-news","tag-darius-slay","tag-detroit-lions-news","tag-emmanuel-forbes","tag-los-angeles-rams-news","tag-philadelphia-eagles-news","tag-pittsburgh-steelers-news","tag-quinyon-mitchell","tag-terrion-arnold","tag-trevon-diggs"],"modified_by":"Anthony Palacios","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/257228","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4795"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=257228"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/257228\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":257262,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/257228\/revisions\/257262"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/257230"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=257228"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=257228"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=257228"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}