Steelers A to Z: Defensive tackle Jacob Slade returns as candidate for role in stopping run

Editor’s note: From now until reporting day to training camp at Saint Vincent College, TribLive is running through the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 90-man roster, looking at each player and assessing his outlook for the 2025 season. The breakdown will run in alphabetical order with at least two players each day between June 12 and July 23. Contract data courtesy spotrac.com.

DT JACOB SLADE

Experience/age: No regular-season NFL games, 25

Contract status: $840,000 cap hit if he makes the team in 2025, after which would be an exclusive rights free agent

The past: A three-year starter at Michigan State, the 6-foot-4, 305-pound Slade went undrafted — by the NFL — in 2023. He was, though, selected by a Pittsburgh team (the Maulers of the USFL). Instead, though, he signed with the Arizona Cardinals and ended up spending his rookie season bouncing on and off their practice squad. The Steelers signed him immediately after that season ended to a reserve/future deal, and he’s been property of the team ever since. Slade spent the entire 2024 season on the Steelers’ practice squad. His only game action game during the preseason when Slade had nine tackles (three solo).

Jacob Slade was hurt this year but had a great 2021 with 40 pressures & 30 run stops. Quick off the ball, plays with good leverage and uses his length well. Probably wont be a huge sack guy in the NFL but should be a solid rotational DL who can be a force against the run pic.twitter.com/efCauQm9WA

— Steve Letizia (Formerly CFCBears) (@CFCBears) January 13, 2023

2025 outlook: On the league’s official website during the 2023 pre-draft process, Slade was projected as a possible late-round pick and “solid NFL backup.” That still might be the case for the stout interior lineman. If he has another strong camp, certainly expect Slade to again be offered a practice-squad spot. The Steelers routinely over the years have tended to stock the bottom of their active roster at D-line with former practice-squad players. Slade could end up going that route — but the Steelers are deep at defensive line with starters Cameron Heyward, Keeanu Benton and rookie Derrick Harmon in addition to veterans Daniel Ekuale, Isaiahh Loudermlik, Dean Lowry and Esezi Otomewo, plus young recent draft picks Logan Lee and Yahya Black. So it won’t be easy for Slade.

He does have the ability to fill a niche as a nose tackle, though, and could project as a subpackage player in run-heavy situations. In 2021 as a junior in college, Slade graded as the nation’s fourth-best run defender (and sixth-best overall) among all defensive tackles.