Such a situation has been raised not too long ago, that means the transfer doesn’t come as an entire shock. Eyeing yet another 12 months within the NFL, Slay will now must discover a new residence for the second time in his profession. Schefter notes this will probably be processed as a post-June 1 lower.
Because of this, the Eagles will see $4.32M in cap financial savings whereas producing a useless cash cost of $9.44M which may be unfold throughout two years. No assured wage remained on Slay’s pact for 2025, the ultimate 12 months of the deal. By transferring on this offseason, Philadelphia will keep away from paying out an possibility bonus of roughly $5M which was due on September 1. Slay will formally turn into a free agent at the beginning of the brand new league 12 months.
A seven-year stint with the Lions led to 2020 when Slay was traded to the Eagles. He was a stalwart within the secondary throughout his time in Philadelphia, accumulating three of his six Professional Bowl nods throughout that span. After all, Slay’s tenure with the crew will probably be finest remembered for the 2 Tremendous Bowl appearances – together with one title – he performed a central position in.
Slay’s time with the Eagles seemed to be coming to an finish in 2023, however an agreement was reached permitting him to stay within the fold. The previous All-Professional racked up between one and three interceptions throughout every of his first 4 Philadelphia campaigns, however he was held with out one throughout the common season in 2024. Slay was nonetheless a key determine on the Eagles’ run to the Tremendous Bowl. Nonetheless, the choice to make use of first- and second-round picks on the CB place in final 12 months’s draft (Quinyon Mitchell, Cooper DeJean) foreshadowed a parting of how.
While Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz notes an Eagles reunion (at a lowered value in comparison with the $16M Slay was owed for 2025) may very well be in play, the crew has different younger choices to show to. Mitchell, DeJean and Kelee Ringo are all hooked up to their rookie contracts whereas Isaiah Rodgers is a pending free agent however retaining him on a low-cost deal could be a priority for Philadelphia. Because the crew continues to transition to a youthful secondary, Slay ought to nonetheless have a notable market.
Any variety of suitors will pursue starting-caliber choices on the cornerback place, and even on the age of 34 Slay might function an efficient one-year rental. The Mississippi State product most popular to complete his profession with the Eagles, however he not too long ago famous a return to the Lions represented his next-best situation. Carlton Davis is a pending free agent, and shedding him would go away Detroit in want of a first-team alternative.
Failing that, different groups might emerge particularly since Slay will probably be obtainable on a one-year pact (supplied he intends to stay to his said timeline of retiring after the 2025 marketing campaign). It will likely be fascinating to see the place his ultimate NFL marketing campaign takes place.
