Steelers' Darius Slay Now Focused On Helping 1 Rising Star: "I'm Gonna Make Sure To Get Him Right"

The Pittsburgh Steelers have had a productive 2025 free agency so far, signing lots of top talent to the team. Much of the organization's focus seems to be on offense, but star cornerback Darius Slay is poised to help bolster the defensive unit. It remains to be seen how all of the Steelers' newest players will fit into the existing lineup. Many of the veterans, such as Slay, will likely take on mentorship roles for younger players. Slay named one Steelers player that he was especially excited to work with, and hopefully train.

On Thursday, Slay said on his podcast, Big Play Slay, that he was looking forward to working with Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. Slay sees the potential in Porter and would be a perfect mentor for the young cornerback.

"I'm gonna make sure to get him right," said Slay. "I told him I watched him. He does that clinch in-step where he gets it in. Now, he's just gotta work on being better down the field," explained Slay.

Porter has notoriously struggled with penalties. In the team's first game against the Cincinnati Bengals last season, Porter got six penalties. It may be better to be too aggressive than not to be aggressive enough. However, a player would require the self-control and discipline to use his aggression to his advantage, a skill that Porter has yet to master. The young cornerback can be too aggressive at times, racking up penalties and costing his team big. 

While Porter's aggression has gotten him in trouble, Slay thinks honing in on it could be the key to his success. Aggression is key for a defense to make big plays, but controlling it is just as necessary. 

"It's hard to get that aggression out of somebody like that, which is cool. That's what you want," said Slay. "You'd rather take that than tell him to be aggressive. You can be like, 'Hey man, calm down a little bit.' It's gonna be fun working with him, I already know."

Maybe the best thing Slay can do for Porter is help him rein in his aggression and focus on making more calculated plays. Slay's presence and guidance could be the thing that unlocks Porter's full potential as a player. Slay has said that at this stage in his career, he is most interested in helping to develop young players.  After leaving the Steelers, one of running back Najee Harris' criticisms of the team was that he didn't have enough guidance as a young player. A veteran like Slay to help train young players could be the thing the Steelers need most right now, for player development, but also for morale.

Another Steeler that could greatly benefit from Slay's presence on the team is Cory Trice Jr. Trice suffered an injury last season and didn't get much playing time throughout the 2024 campaign. With further development, Trice could also reach new heights as a player and grow alongside Porter.

Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin Is Someone Slay Is Excited To Play For

When asked about things he was excited for when going to his new team, Slay named Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin as an exciting part of playing for Pittsburgh. Slay said that he felt Tomlin was genuine, and that it was an attitude lots of other players shared.

"He's a very genuine dude. I look forward to playing for him. I'm hearing it, now I get to experience it. As soon as I came into the building, the energy was very different."

Having chemistry between the head coach and players is critical for a team to work well together. The Steelers will offer Slay an opportunity to shine as a star cornerback and to fill in a mentor role for younger players. If he also clicks with the coaching staff, all the better.

How do you think Slay and Porter will play together? Can Slay bring out the best in Porter, making him a better player? Let us know in the comments.

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