The Philadelphia Eagles won the Super Bowl this season, thanks to a strong defense. While Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley, and AJ Brown put up plenty of points, the defense shut down opponents all year. This was on full display in the Super Bowl when the Eagles were all over Patrick Mahomes in the backfield. For any team, the challenge from year to year is keeping the team together. The salary cap has to be managed, and sometimes tough decisions have to be made. The team made a shocking move on Monday, announcing the release of Pro Bowl cornerback Darius Slay.
Philadelphia Eagles Releasing Darius Slay
The Philadelphia Eagles are making a post-June 1 designated release, which saves the team about $4.3 million in cap space. ESPN’s Adam Schefter was the first to report the shocking news. This season, Darius Slay racked up 49 total tackles. He also forced one fumble and had one fumble recovery. In the postseason, he had an interception against the Green Bay Packers in the wild card round. Outside of his production, he adds a veteran leadership that was essential for a young secondary.
Darius Slay made it clear that he either wanted to play for the Philadelphia Eagles or the Detroit Lions. With this release, a return to the Eagles seems less likely. The Lions could use some veteran leadership in the secondary. GM Brad Holmes may get on the phone shortly to see if they can work out a deal. If neither of those teams works out, Slay will definitely be a quality veteran for another team.
What Do They Need The Money For?
This was a shocking move for a few reasons. The team hadn’t given any indication they wanted to move on from Slay. Furthermore, the cap savings aren’t massive. Four million dollars is a small saving, but many times, players are released because it saves a huge chunk of money. The biggest reason the Eagles may be looking to save money is for linebacker Zack Baun.
A report indicated the team could get outbid for his services. Philadelphia may be looking to free up cap space for their best offer. Baun is much younger than Slay, which is why the team may be looking to lock up the young player rather than a veteran in the twilight of his career. Obviously, all of this is speculation, but any time a team starts to make cap space, that usually means another move is coming.
Final Thoughts
Another free agent enters the pool! Cornerback is often a need for many teams, so Darius Slay should get plenty of calls. He has shown he can play at a Pro Bowl level throughout his career. Where will he end up?
