The Eagles plan to release star Darius Slay, as first reported by Jeff Howe of The Athletic, ending the star cornerback’s time in Philadelphia after three seasons.
Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer reports that the decision comes after Slay’s representation and the Eagles tried to renegotiate the five-time Pro Bowler’s contract but were unable to do so. The 32-year-old defensive back’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, then requested permission for his client to seek a trade, as reported last Friday.
“Nothing but love Philly!! Lets see where we heading next..” Slay wrote on Twitter around the same time that reports of his impending release began to emerge.
The Eagles will reportedly designate Slay as a post-June 1 release, according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo. That will allow Philadelphia to push $13 million of Slay’s cap hit into 2024 while taking a hit of just $8 million this upcoming year.
Slay, who has earned Pro Bowl nods in each of the last two seasons, maintained on the latest episode of his podcast Big Play Slay that he wanted to remain with the Eagles for the rest of his career. However, he acknowledged that seeking permission for a trade was a “part of the business” of contract negotiations.
“I do want to finish my career as an Eagle, but we’ll see,” Slay said Saturday. “We be looking forward to it, man. Got time here. But best believe, I do want to be an Eagle. But if my job requires me to go elsewhere, then I’ll go.”
Slay finished the 2022 season with 55 tackles, three interceptions and 14 passes defended in 17 regular-season games.
