The Philadelphia Eagles have reportedly released five-time Pro Bowl corner Darius Slay. The move was somewhat expected, considering that Slay previously asked the team to be traded.
Earlier in the offseason, the Eagles and Slay failed to work out a new contract to keep the veteran in Philly. The 32-year-old then asked and received permission to look for a trade, but it turned out there were not many options to his liking out there. In the end, the two sides decided it was best to move their separate ways and have a fresh start.
The Eagles are yet to make the move official, but Slay already confirmed the news on social media.
Slay had a solid campaign in 2022, earning a Pro Bowl nod after having 55 tackles, 14 passes defended, and three interceptions in the regular season. He reportedly entered the offseason looking for a new contract considering he had no guaranteed money left on the three-year, $50 million extension he signed in 2020.
The Eagles were also motivated to find a resolution for Slay as he was set to count $26 million against their cap in 2023. By opting to release him via post-June 1 designation, they are saving $17.5 million in cap space, although they will incur a dead cap in the next two seasons.
Slay is expected to get significant attention in the free agent market, where he’ll immediately become one of the best players available. However, with the cornerback market dwindling down this offseason, he is unlikely to get the big deal that he is probably hoping for.
