PHILADELPHIA — Reports have emerged that the Philadelphia Eagles are planning to part ways with their six-time Pro Bowl cornerback, Darius Slay. This information comes from a source close to the situation who wishes to remain anonymous since the team’s official announcement has yet to be made. The release of Slay is slated for post-June 1, according to the source.
Jennifer Slay, the cornerback’s wife, expressed her emotion on social media, simply stating, “Real tears.” Slay, who is 34, has been pivotal to the Eagles’ defense and played a significant role in their recent Super Bowl victory just three weeks ago. The decision to release him is expected to free up approximately $4.3 million for the Eagles in the next season’s salary cap.
Darius Slay’s career began with the Detroit Lions, where he spent seven seasons before being traded to the Eagles in March 2020. The trade involved third-round and fifth-round draft picks. Since joining the Eagles, Slay has secured nine interceptions in regular-season matches and added one more during this year’s playoffs against Green Bay. Throughout his career, Slay has consistently demonstrated his defensive abilities, earning three Pro Bowls with each team and leading the league with eight interceptions in 2017 while being honored as a first-team All-Pro.
The player, affectionately known by fans as “Big Play” Slay, has not directly spoken about his impending release on social media but has shared several posts acknowledging the situation. In a podcast appearance last month, he recognized the possibility of this move. “I got one more (year left),” he remarked. “You know how that works. So whatever they want to do. I might re-sign back, hopefully. If I ain’t, I got to see what we doing because I do want to play one more year, for sure.” He also indicated that a return to Detroit would be welcomed.
With Slay’s departure, the Eagles have the option to consider players like Cooper DeJean or Kelee Ringo to step up as cornerback alongside Quinyon Mitchell. Darius Slay has been known not only for his on-field prowess but also for his influence in the locker room, earning him the role of team captain. “Any time you’re around Slay, he’s got this energy, and this love for his teammates, and this love for football, and this love for life. That’s infectious,” stated Eagles coach Nick Sirianni earlier this season. “You love having guys like that. We’ve got a lot of guys like that here and Slay is definitely at the top of the list there, just bringing that positive energy every day regardless of the circumstances.”
Moving forward, Slay’s release is anticipated to be just one of the challenging decisions for the Eagles this offseason, particularly following their Super Bowl triumph. The organization faces the possibility of losing free agents such as linebacker Zack Baun, defensive linemen Josh Sweat, and guard Mekhi Becton.
