Darius Slay will continue his tenure with the Eagles in the 2023 season, following a turbulent day's events.
Fresh Take:
Just a few hours after the Eagles decided to part ways with Darius Slay, the five-time Pro Bowl cornerback announced his return to the team.
Taking to Twitter, Slay posted, "Back like I never left!!! Run it back," signaling his return to the Eagles. His partner, Jennifer, a social media enthusiast, responded with, "WE BELOW BABY," accompanied by three Eagles emojis.
The whirlwind turn of events started when Slay's agent sought permission to pursue other opportunities, indicative of testing the market. However, when reports emerged that the Eagles intended to release Slay instead of trading him, a resolution seemed unlikely.
The Eagles allegedly aimed to decrease Slay's substantial $26.1 million cap hit, while Slay sought assurances beyond the 2023 season. Despite seeming deadlocked, the release was never formalized, allowing the Eagles to retain Slay's exclusive negotiating rights.
Jeff McLane of the Inquirer reported that Slay's restructured contract does not involve new money, primarily benefiting the Eagles by clearing needed cap space.
Previously, it appeared that Slay and the Eagles had reached an impasse, with the Eagles seeking to lessen Slay's cap hit and Slay desiring security beyond the 2023 season. However, the sudden turn of events has Slay back with the Eagles for a fourth season in Philadelphia.
Background Info:- Slay's 2025 cap charge dropped from $13.77 million to $9.44 million with the restructure, freeing up about $6.42 million in cap space for the Eagles when combined with the release of another player, James Bradberry[2][3].- Slay preferred to stay with the Eagles on a reworked contract, but the team opted for younger cornerbacks Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean, who had impressive rookie years in 2024[5].- Following his release, Slay signed a one-year, $10 million contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers[3][5].
In 2022, Slay recorded a Pro Bowl season although his performance dipped in the second half of the year[1]. At 32, Slay enters the age where cornerbacks typically begin to regress. He has 26 career interceptions and two pick-6's, with 7 interceptions in three years with the Eagles. His 26 interceptions rank 12th among active players[1].
With second-team all-pro James Bradberry agreeing to a three-year deal with the Eagles and the team also accepting a one-year deal from Fletcher Cox, the Eagles now appear to have both their star cornerbacks back for the 2023 season, an unexpected twist following initial speculation that they might not have either one. The Eagles have also secured the return of Pro Bowlers such as Jason Kelce and Brandon Graham for the 2023 season[1].
In the midst of these NFL negotiations, Darius Slay, the five-time Pro Bowl cornerback, decided to prioritize a return to football, specifically American football, choosing to rejoin the Philadelphia Eagles after a brief departure. His restructured contract with the Eagles frees up approximately $6.42 million in cap space for the team, allowing them to strengthen their squad for the upcoming football season, with the goal of improving their performance in sports, particularly football.
