Steelers Predicted to Find Darius Slay Replacement
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Pro Football Network's Ian Cummings projected the Pittsburgh Steelers to replace Darius Slay in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
The Pittsburgh Steelers secondary has been a significant disappointment through the first seven weeks of the 2025 NFL Draft. The team added veterans Jalen Ramsey and Darius Slay over the offseason to help, but those two former All-Pros haven’t led to very different results.
Coming off arguably the secondary’s worst performance of the season against the Cincinnati Bengals, Pro Football Network’s Ian Cummings projected the Steelers to try and fix their secondary next offseason through the draft.
In his latest mock draft Saturday, Cummings predicted the Steelers to select Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy in the first round.
“Unexpected circumstances have positioned the Steelers as the favorites to win the AFC North and secure a postseason berth in 2025, but there’s still work to do before this team is a sustained contender year in and year out. Adding youth at CB is one such key,” wrote Cummings.
“Joey Porter Jr. has struggled at times, and Darius Slay is a short-term rental. In this 2026 NFL Mock Draft, I targeted a CB who resembles Slay: Jermod McCoy. McCoy hasn’t played in 2025, but his 2024 tape is elite and showcases his man-coverage prowess.”
The Steelers added Slay on a one-year, $10 million deal. Next year, the team could add McCoy to play opposite Porter on the outside. The Steelers could then still keep Ramsey as a versatile cornerback to split his time in the slot and outside.
Could Steelers Replace Darius Slay With First-Round CB?
Based on draft history, the likelihood the Steelers target a cornerback in the first round is slim. The organization has done that just once over the past 28 years.
That one time they did, things didn’t exactly go as planned. In 2016, the Steelers picked cornerback Artie Burns at No. 25 overall.
Draft pundits heavily criticized the team for the selection. The pundits were correct — Burns was a bust, as he started just 32 games in four seasons and didn’t receive a second contract.
The Steelers chose Joey Porter Jr. at No. 32 overall in the 2023 NFL Draft. But technically, Porter was a second-round pick.
While Porter has produced mixed results, he’s at least proven to be worth starter. The Steelers, though, have tried to pair Porter with over-the-hill veterans the past couple years.
The 34-year-old Slay is the latest example.
Drafting a first-round cornerback would start a much-needed youth movement in Pittsburgh’s secondary. It could also potentially raise Porter’s play, as it could take some pressure off Pittsburgh’s current young cornerback.
CB Jermod McCoy Would Come With Risks
It’s relatively easy to argue the Steelers should draft a cornerback early in the 2026 NFL Draft. Predicting which one is the right fit for Mike Tomlin is much harder.
Cummings pegged McCoy to the Steelers. While the Tennessee cornerback is talented, he hasn’t played at all this season because of injury.
It’s possible he doesn’t return before the end of the year.
If that’s the case, an NFL team picking McCoy in the first round would be selecting a prospect who will be away from the field an entire season.
McCoy began his college career at Oregon State. He played his first season with the Volunteers last year. During 2024, he had 44 combined tackles with nine pass defenses and four interceptions.
Broncos Add Young ‘Standout’ Playmaker to Roster Before Facing Cowboys
The Denver Broncos have tweaked their roster before they take on the Dallas Cowboys in Week 8, adding linebacker Jordan Turner to their gameday roster.
Turner is a rookie undrafted free agent. He began his college career at Wisconsin before finishing closer to home at Michigan State in 2024. Turner signed with the Broncos after the 2025 draft and has been a member of their practice squad since.
He will get his first taste of the regular season in Week 8.
Broncos Elevate Jordan Turner to Active Roster
The Broncos announced that “We’ve elevated ILB Jordan Turner for #DALvsDEN,” with a post on X on October 25, drawing attention to a player The Denver Post’s Luca Evans called a “camp standout.”
“Denver has added a young defender to its active roster for Week 8,” DenverBroncos.com’s Aric DiLalla wrote on October 25. “The Broncos elevated rookie inside linebacker Jordan Turner from the practice squad to the active roster for Sunday’s game against the Cowboys, the team announced.
“Turner has yet to appear in a regular-season game, but he recorded 10 tackles, 1.5 sacks, a tackle for loss and four quarterback hits in preseason action.”
Turner certainly drew attention before the season.
In May, the Denver Gazette’s Chris Tomasson reported, “Among the two rookie tryout players signed, I’m told LB Jordan Turner impressed the #Broncos immediately with the leadership he displayed and his ability to quickly pick up the playbook.”
Broncos Forced to Shuffle Deck at LB
Turner is not the first reserve linebacker the Broncos have turned to amid injuries and disciplinary actions. Specifically, Dre Greenlaw missed the first six games of the season with a quad injury, then received a one-game suspension for “verbally abusing” an official.
“Third ILB to get an elevation so far, joining Levelle Bailey and Garret Wallow (promoted but now on IR),” The Denver Post’s Parker Gabriel.
“Makes sense to bring an LB up with Dre Greenlaw suspended.”
Turner joins starter Alex Singleton, Greenlaw’s fill-in Justin Strnad, and fellow rookie UDFA Karene Reid on the Broncos’ active roster for their tilt against the Cowboys. Whether or not he makes it into a game is another story.
Former UDFA Passed Over Again
Turner’s elevation is telling, both for him and Bailey, a 2024 UDFA who is on the Broncos’ practice squad. This marks the sixth consecutive week that the Broncos have opted against elevating Bailey. He was expected to take a step forward this season.
Like Reid (sixth among LBs in 2025), Bailey ranked among NFL.com draft analyst Chad Rueter’s list of the top UDFAs in his class.
Bailey ranked 13th in his group of free agent rookies.
He also appeared in 10 games for the Broncos as a rookie. He logged 5 total tackles and played 147 of his 152 snaps on special teams. However, Bailey has not received a call-up by the Broncos since the regular-season opener. That was a 20-12 win over the Tennessee Titans.
The Broncos have passed over Bailey multiple times. Moreover, they did so for even less experienced, unproven options in Reid and Turner. That seemingly speaks volumes.
