Another inexperienced or uninspired quarterback will be starting for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2025. It might be a mediocre free agent like Sam Darnold or Jameis Winston, or it could be one of the 2024 starters like Russell Wilson or Justin Fields. Early in the NFL Draft in April, some fans are rooting for a rookie quarterback. They will probably carry on the Steelers’ quarterback purgatory tradition, whoever it is. The expectation of winning football in Pittsburgh, however, has not diminished, and general manager Omar Khan is now required to make squad changes in an attempt to improve a subpar passer. Darius Slayton, a receiver with the New York Giants, is reportedly a free agent target for the Steelers.
The Steelers are anticipated to show interest in Slayton in free agency, according to a person familiar with the matter, Noah Strackbein wrote for Sports Illustrated. “The 28 year old had a career low of just 573 yards and two touchdowns this past season, but as the Giants struggled to find success at quarterback, many around the league viewed their wide receiver core as talented but lacking the help they needed.” Slayton is another downfield perimeter danger who can attack on the play-action shots offensive coordinator Arthur Smith favors, but he isn’t the player that fans have been lusting after since the trade market heated up before the 2024 season.
To his credit, he’s been a model of consistency during his six seasons in New York. In four of his first five seasons, he saw between 700 and 800 yards. In 2024, the quarterbacking truly fell off, leaving him with just 573 yards and two scores on 71 targets. Slayton has scored just 13 touchdowns since finding the end zone eight times as a rookie in 2018, but the shape of his production has remained relatively stable, albeit at the whims of inconsistent quarterback play.
Pittsburgh is aware that Slayton would be a boundary deep threat who occasionally drops and has a positive presence in the locker room. In order for Slayton to capitalize on his teammate’s gravity, it might be just as crucial to pair him with Pickens off the field as it is to do so between the sidelines. But the fit is more complicated than just requiring a receiver in two ways. Pickens and Slayton are most at ease in a comparable capacity, and Slayton will probably be searching for quarterback play that has been demonstrated to be of high caliber. Naturally, the Steelers cannot promise that. However, they might be able to allay those worries with money if they have a sound cap position.
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