The Eagles are releasing Pro Bowl cornerback Darius Slay, one day after re-signing fellow cornerback James Bradberry.
Slay, 32, is a five-time Pro Bowl selection. But the Eagles have to get down to the NFL’s salary cap by 4 p.m. on Wednesday. The Eagles were $2.7 million over the cap, according to overthecap.com after signing Bradberry to a three-year deal worth as much as $38 million and adding running back Rashaan Penny while re-signing Boston Scott on Tuesday.
Slay, who had one more year left on his contract, tweeted the news Wednesday morning.
“Nothing but love Philly!! Lets see where we heading next..”
But his salary cap hit would have been $26 million. The Eagles had given Slay permission to seek a trade last week, and Slay admitted on his podcast that he not only didn’t ask for a trade, but he wanted to sign an extension with the Eagles.
The Eagles could have signed Slay to an extension, which would have lowered his salary cap hit for this season. But it would have added guaranteed years beyond 2023, something the Eagles didn’t want to do given their cap situation.
So they chose to re-sign Bradberry, and they’ll designate Slay as a post-June 1 cut, meaning that they’ll save about $18 million on the cap this year, but will take a $13 million cap hit in 2024.
Slay, considered one of the top cornerbacks in the NFL even at 32 years old, had three interceptions last season. He just completed his 10th season. The Eagles traded for him in the spring of 2020, sending the Detroit Lions a third- and fifth-round draft pick.
Slay’s release could mean that the Eagles will make a push to re-sign safety Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, who led the NFL with six interceptions last season despite missing five games with a lacerated kidney.
Contact Martin Frank at mfrank@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter @Mfranknfl.
