Steelers Now
PITTSBURGH — One of the deepest parts of the 2026 Pittsburgh Steelers might be the cornerbacks room, where the team has five players who have been full-time NFL starters, but that didn’t stop an unheralded part of that room from being a standout during OTAs and minicamp practices this spring.
Doneiko Slaughter, signed to the Steelers on a reserve/future contract in January, entered the spring as a near-total afterthought in a room that included Jalen Ramsey, Joey Porter Jr., Jamel Dean, Asante Samuel Jr. and Brandin Echols.
Even among the depth options, third-round rookie Daylen Everette — who also had a very strong spring — seemed like a much more likely choice to get significant playing time.
And while Everette did indeed stand out, Slaughter spent most of his spring playing right next to the rookie, and more than held his own. For a former undrafted free agent, it was an unexpected amount of playing time spent facing the top Pittsburgh offense.
Well, maybe a surprise to everyone else.
“I wouldn’t say I’m surprised, man,” Slaughter, who goes by Neiko, said to Steelers Now. “It’s just the way I go about myself. I haven’t done anything yet either, so I just can’t be too high on myself. … The season isn’t here yet.”
Part of it was circumstance. Ramsey and Porter weren’t around the team much this spring. Dean spent time rehabbing a minor injury, and 2025 seventh-rounder Donte Kent is not yet 100% after an ACL injury. It opened up a lot of playing time for others.
But it’s clear there’s some confidence in Slaughter that goes well beyond his sparse pro resume and an unforeseen opportunity. He spent last year’s training camp with the Jacksonville Jaguars, was released in August, and was out of football until the Steelers came calling in January.
With a totally new coaching staff, Slaughter sees this spring as an opportunity to show what he can do an even playing field with even the team’s veterans.
“They know me just as much as they know everybody else,” he said. “Everybody got to show what they can do, what they’re capable of, because it’s a new team.”
Slaughter did well, even when matched up against the likes of Steelers offensive veterans DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman. After spending most of last season watching from home, those are reps he was determined to take full advantage of.
“I’m just getting better every day, just learning from everybody, taking it day by day,” he said. “It’s a very valuable rep, because these guys have played in those high tempo environments already. So those quality reps against the real ones, it’ll take me a long way for sure.”
A spot on the 53-man roster at cornerback would be a tall ask for Slaughter, considering the amount of quality depth that’s ahead of him, but his strong spring has firmly established him as someone to watch at training camp, and he could very well have the inside track on...
