When the Pittsburgh Steelers made a comparatively large splash in free company this offseason with the addition of veteran cornerback Darius Slay on a one-year deal coming off a Tremendous Bowl title with the Philadelphia Eagles, their purpose was so as to add a veteran presence at a place of want, one who might assist mentor a number of the youthful cornerbacks within the room.
Slay has embraced that rapidly in Pittsburgh, particularly after doing that final season with the Eagles and a pair of rookies in Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean, who performed main roles within the Eagles profitable the Tremendous Bowl.
Now in Pittsburgh, he’s tasked with serving to mentor third-year cornerbacks Joey Porter Jr. and Cory Trice Jr., to not point out youthful gamers like Beanie Bishop Jr., and rookie seventh-round decide Donte Kent.
Porter, who spoke to reporters Thursday following the ultimate day of obligatory minicamp, is making the most of having Slay round.
“I advised him when he received right here, I’m at all times [going to] be in his ear,” Porter mentioned, based on video through Steelers Stay on X. “It’s just a bit easy dialog we’ve with simply sure performs that I see, or ask him if he’s seen it totally different, or what would you do in these several types of conditions.
“I’m at all times gonna ask him to be in his ear about that and he’s an important man, ’trigger he’s at all times gonna give me data on the sport and that’s what he actually needs to do. So it’s been nice.”
Having that kind of veteran presence within the cornerbacks room will probably be key for the Steelers shifting ahead. In fact, they’ve gone this route earlier than with the likes of Patrick Peterson and Donte Jackson in back-to-back years, and the 2 had points with well being and effectiveness.
Slay, although, can nonetheless play and confirmed that final season with the Eagles, notably within the playoffs. He may not be as bodily gifted as he was earlier in his profession, however he nonetheless wins between the ears and performs with good positioning and the understanding of what offenses are attempting to do.
That data is one thing he can move alongside to the likes of Porter, who has had ups and downs early in his profession.
Shortly after he inked the cope with the Steelers, Slay acknowledged he was wanting ahead to enjoying with the “nice” Porter, who he believes is an up-and-coming younger cornerback who may be the most effective within the league.
After mentoring two younger corners final season in Philadelphia, Slay is taking over that function in Pittsburgh and embracing it. To Porter’s credit score, he’s making the most of it, too. Hopefully that pairing can work effectively collectively this season, play some good soccer and assist set Porter up for long-term success within the NFL.
