One of the few notable exits the Philadelphia Eagles have had in the 2025 offseason is corner Darius Slay signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers. It made sense to move on for Philly, who has young talent in the secondary and needed all possible cap space to keep as much of the Super Bowl core together as possible. However, this doesn't make it easy to say goodbye to a player who has been such an important part of the Eagles' defense throughout his tenure.
The Steelers signed Slay to a $10-million deal that is only for the 2025 season. One the corner is likely regretting after watching the team's offseason moves. While Mike Tomlin has an incredible reputation as a player-focused coach, the situation in Pittsburgh appears to be a dumpster fire waiting to happen. One that is going to put a lot of stress on the Steelers' defense and put Slay consistently under pressure.
Former Eagles Defender Darius Slay Stepped Into a Bad Situation in Pittsburgh
The Steelers opted to trade away receiver George Pickens to Philly's rival, deeming the receiver too problematic. However, this same logic didn't apply to a blockbuster trade for DK Metcalf and the signing of veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers. For some reason, the franchise appears to believe that Rodgers can defy Father Time and turn back the clock to the dominating force he once was. The one problem with this is the incredible sample size that indicates otherwise. There is also the slight problem of Rodgers having played poorly for two of the last three seasons.
The one outlier was when the veteran missed the entire 2023 season due to an injury. What you can consistently count on Rodgers to bring to your franchise at this stage of his career is the drama. The complete opposite of Jalen Hurts, the veteran is going to quickly make Slay regret joining a franchise that is going to become the league's reality show in the worst ways.
Slay's legacy as a Super Bowl champion in Philly remains despite the two sides opting to part ways. It is impossible not to respect his accomplishments while still understanding the team's need to make a change at the position. It will be interesting to see how the pressure and drama play out for a player who remains an important piece of franchise history.