The Buffalo Bills have acquired veteran cornerback Darius Slay off waivers from the Pittsburgh Steelers, providing a boost to their secondary ahead of the playoff push. Slay, a former Pro Bowl player, becomes available for immediate impact after a disappointing stint in Pittsburgh.
The Buffalo Bills moved quickly to bolster their defense by claiming cornerback Darius Slay off waivers from the Pittsburgh Steelers on December 3, 2025. Slay, who did not play in the Steelers' game against the Bills on Sunday as a healthy scratch, requested his release to seek opportunities elsewhere, according to reports.
Pittsburgh had signed Slay to a one-year, $10 million contract in March, expecting him to strengthen their defense. However, his performance fell short of expectations, leading to the release. The contract structure included an $8.74 million signing bonus and a $1.255 million base salary, meaning the Bills will only owe approximately $350,000 for the remainder of the season's base pay—a low cost for a player with Slay's experience.
Slay's addition comes at a pivotal time for Buffalo, which hopes he can contribute significantly in the final stretch of the regular season and potential playoff games. The Bills view this as a low-risk, high-reward move to enhance their secondary for meaningful matchups over the next two months.
The Steelers, meanwhile, have moved on from Slay and reportedly added Asante Samuel Jr. to their roster, aiming to address their defensive needs differently.