Quinyon Mitchell and Darius Slay will have a lifelong relationship. As the Eagles rookie prepares to wrap up his rookie season, he’s paying the ultimate homage to his veteran teammate.
During his Tuesday Super Bowl media session, the Defensive Rookie of the Year candidate was asked to name the best player of all time at his position. Without blinking and with a straight face, Mitchell named Slay.
Quinyon Mitchell was asked who is the best player of all-time at his position.
“Darius Slay.” #Eagles pic.twitter.com/pOJPdWvgLj
— Jeff Kerr (@JeffKerrCBS) February 4, 2025
Darrelle Revis, Aeneas Williams, Mel Blount, Willie Brown, Charles Woodson, Darrell Green, Mike Haynes, Rod Woodson, and Deion Sanders are among the names that would have issues with Mitchell’s assessment.
Slay has made six Pro Bowls in 12 NFL seasons. The Eagles cornerback and former Lions draft pick ranks seventh among active players with 28 career interceptions.
Slay has made the Pro Bowl in the last three seasons, logging nine interceptions, two touchdown returns, and 43 pass breakups in 60 games. Slay has avoided the normal decline cornerbacks face in their 30s, but he told Dave Zangaro of NBC Sports Philadelphia earlier this season, “I’m not going to just keep playing. I’m going to let these young guys eat. That’s what I’m here for, to make sure these guys get there. And when my time is up, it’s up.”
Slay is under contract in 2025 but has a $13,765,483 cap hit. Still, over the past five years, only seven cornerbacks aged 33 or older have started ten or more games in a season. Dallas Cowboys’ Stephon Gilmore started every game last season at 33.
