After five seasons, three Pro Bowls, and a Super Bowl victory, the Eagles are parting ways with veteran cornerback Darius Slay, sources confirmed to NBC Sports Philadelphia. ESPN’s Adam Schefter initially reported the news.
Slay, 34, was instrumental in helping the Eagles win Super Bowl LIX, but during the playoffs, he acknowledged that his time in Philadelphia might be coming to a close.
By designating Slay’s release as a post-June 1 move, the Eagles stand to save $4.324 million in cap space, according to OverTheCap. However, they will need to absorb his full $13.78 million cap hit until that date.
NBC Sports Philadelphia’s John Clark reported that Slay could potentially return to the Eagles on a different contract, but that remains to be seen.
Throughout the playoffs, Slay expressed his desire to play one more NFL season, though he recognized that it might not be with the Eagles. While he played well in 2024, Slay also dealt with lingering injuries and missed some time. He shared a strong bond with rookie cornerbacks Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean, both of whom praised his leadership.
Serving as a team captain for the third consecutive year in 2024, Slay took that role seriously. His first captaincy nearly brought him to tears. While Slay is known for his upbeat, fun-loving nature, his leadership had a profound impact on his younger teammates across the team.
Slay joined the Eagles in a trade prior to the 2020 season. Over his five years with the team, he made three Pro Bowls, playing in 74 games with 9 interceptions, 56 pass breakups, and 3 fumble recoveries. Prior to his time in Philadelphia, Slay made three Pro Bowls in seven seasons with the Lions.
Looking ahead, the Eagles have two cornerback positions secured with Mitchell and DeJean. They will soon face a decision about Isaiah Rodgers, who will become a free agent next week. Rodgers, who saw significant playing time in 2024, often filling in for Slay, performed well and could be re-signed to become the other starting outside cornerback.
Additionally, the Eagles still have former 4th-round pick Kelee Ringo, who is just 22 and entering his third NFL season in 2025. Although he was behind Rodgers on the depth chart, Ringo still holds great potential. There’s also a possibility that the Eagles could shift DeJean to an outside cornerback role or utilize both positions in 2025.
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