After five seasons, three Pro Bowls, and a Super Bowl victory, the Eagles are parting ways with veteran cornerback, according to league sources confirmed by NBC Sports Philadelphia. ESPN’s Adam Schefter was the first to report the news.
Slay, 34, played a key role in Philadelphia’s Super Bowl LIX win but acknowledged during the playoffs that his time with the team might be nearing its end.
By designating his release as post-June 1, the Eagles will eventually save $4.324 million in cap space, though they must carry his full $13.78 million cap hit until that date, per OverTheCap. However, NBC Sports Philadelphia’s John Clark noted that Slay could potentially return to the team on a different deal.
During the playoffs, Slay expressed his desire to play one more NFL season, even if it wasn’t in Philadelphia. Despite battling injuries and missing some time, he remained productive in 2024. He also built strong relationships with rookie cornerbacks Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean, both of whom praised his mentorship.
A team captain for the third consecutive season in 2024, Slay took that role to heart. While known for his upbeat and fun-loving personality, his leadership resonated with younger teammates on both offense and defense.
Acquired in a trade before the 2020 season, Slay made an immediate impact with the Eagles. In his five seasons with the team, he earned three Pro Bowl selections and recorded 9 interceptions, 56 pass breakups, and 3 fumble recoveries across 74 games. Before that, he was a three-time Pro Bowler during his seven-year tenure with the Detroit Lions.
Looking ahead, the Eagles have two cornerback spots secured with Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean. However, they still have a decision to make regarding Isaiah Rodgers, who is set to become a free agent next week. Rodgers saw significant playing time in 2024, often stepping in for Darius Slay, and performed well. Re-signing him could provide stability at the other outside cornerback position.
The Eagles also have former fourth-round pick Kelee Ringo, who remains just 22 years old as he enters his third NFL season in 2025. While he was behind Rodgers on the depth chart last season, he still has plenty of upside.
Additionally, the Eagles could explore shifting DeJean to an outside cornerback role or utilizing him in multiple spots across the secondary in 2025.