The Pittsburgh Steelers were supposed to rely on their defense to finally make a Super Bowl run. However, Mike Tomlin and Teryl Austin have failed to deliver with a group of stars that includes T.J. Watt, Cam Heyward, Alex Highsmith, Patrick Queen, Joey Porter Jr., Darius Slay, and Jalen Ramsey.
All of those players are part of the highest-paid defense in the entire NFL and, throughout the 2025 season, have turned out to be a disaster. In four of seven games, they have allowed more than 30 points, and quarterbacks like Justin Fields and Joe Flacco have looked great despite leading poor teams. In the case of Sam Darnold and Jordan Love, it was already known that the Seahawks and Packers were playoff contenders and, as a consequence, absolutely dominated at Acrisure Stadium.
In fact, the bright spot for the Steelers is the player who was the biggest question mark before the season: Aaron Rodgers. The offense has been very solid despite not having a No. 2 wide receiver and has kept Pittsburgh consistently in the fight.
Who might the Pittsburgh Steelers let go?
The Pittsburgh Steelers might let go of Darius Slay due to his poor performances throughout the 2025 season. The cornerback arrived as a key addition after winning the Super Bowl with the Eagles, signing a one-year, $10 million contract.
Now, Mike Tomlin and Omar Khan are reportedly seeing him as a liability, and there is a very high probability that Slay will be traded soon, according to a report from Brooke Pryor.
see also
NFL News: Ben Roethlisberger takes a shot at Mike Tomlin after Steelers loss against Packers
“Who could be on the move? Cornerback Darius Slay. He was part of the Steelers’ secondary overhaul in the offseason, but he hasn’t panned out. Slay, who won a Super Bowl with the Eagles a year ago, has been a significant part of recurring issues like missed tackles, miscommunication and being out of position. Against the Packers this past Sunday, Slay was replaced by Brandin Echols at times in the second half.”
