Darius Slay

Bills Claim CB Darius Slay

December 3rd, 2025 at 10:40pm CST by Sam Robinson

Like Adam Thielen, Darius Slay did not clear waivers. The 34-year-old cornerback will be heading to Buffalo after the Bills made a successful claim, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.

The Steelers cut Slay on Tuesday, ending a short stint. While the 13th-year veteran is attached to a one-year, $10MM deal, the Steelers are responsible for most of it. They included an $8.75MM signing bonus in a deal carrying a vet-minimum base salary. The Bills will only be responsible for barely $370K on this claim.

At the very least, Slay will provide Buffalo with an ultra-experienced depth option. Slay’s 176 starts at corner rank just outside the top 20 at the position throughout NFL history. He started nine games with the Steelers but ended his tenure as a healthy scratch against the Bills. Pittsburgh replaced Slay with in-season signing Asante Samuel Jr. The Bills were not among the teams to host Samuel on a visit, but they will proceed with Slay as a late-season add.

Gunning for its sixth straight AFC East title, Buffalo has an uphill battle thanks to New England’s 11-2 record. The Bills sit 8-4 and need help even in the event of a win in Foxborough next week. The Bills made multiple moves at corner this offseason, drafting Maxwell Hairston in Round 1 and reuniting with Tre’Davious White. The latter has worked as the primary starter opposite Christian Benford, lining up in that role in 11 of the Bills’ 12 games.

Pro Football Focus has graded Hairston as the superior option, though his 188 defensive snaps do not qualify him as a regular. PFF ranks White 83rd at the position, as the former All-Pro’s second-stint form pales in comparison to where he was in his prime. The Bills have Benford and Taron Johnson as two of the better options at their respective positions, but the CB2 area has been a question mark since Hairston’s summer LCL injury kept him from debuting until late October.

In White (30) and Slay, the Bills now have two 30-something corners. The latter is one of the most decorated active players at the position. While Slay missed out on All-Decade acclaim for the 2010s, he is a six-time Pro Bowler and a one-time All-Pro. The 6-foot boundary corner started in two Super Bowls with the Eagles, making a big impact in 2022 and ’24.

The Eagles used Slay as their No. 1 corner in 2022 and kept him as a starter despite drafting Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean in the first and second rounds last year. Slay played 81% of Philadelphia’s defensive snaps last season. This waiver claim blocks the Eagles of what could have been an interesting reunion.

Slay’s $10MM price in free agency suggested there would be interested teams following his Pittsburgh exit, and while it will be interesting to learn if anyone else submitted a claim, his Steelers work left plenty to be desired. PFF graded Slay 71st among CBs this year, and Pro-Football-Reference’s coverage metrics charged him with allowing a 75% completion rate as the closest defender — a sharp uptick from his 2024 number (54.7%).

A scheme transition will naturally provide optimism, as no two defenses are alike, and the Steelers giving him an 81% snap share does show a degree of dependability in Year 13. But this is obviously not a prime version of Slay the Bills are getting. The Bills have used some 30-somethings at corner under McDermott, who reunited with Josh Norman before doing the same with White. Slay joins Norman, Stephon Gilmore and Johnathan Joseph as the only corners 34 or older to see time this decade.

If nothing else, Slay provides the Bills with some high-profile insurance as they look to make an eighth playoff berth in the Sean McDermott era. Slay (28 career interceptions) said shortly after Super Bowl LIX he would likely retire after this season. The accomplished cover man now factors into a Super Bowl contender’s equation, making for an interesting career conclusion. Buffalo waived cornerback Ja’Marcus Ingram to clear a roster spot. Ingram was a healthy scratch over the past three weeks.

Steelers To Waive CB Darius Slay

December 2nd, 2025 at 11:07pm CST by Sam Robinson

The rare modern cornerback to play an age-34 season, Darius Slay will see his time with the Steelers end earlier than expected. Pittsburgh is moving on from the veteran defender.

This is being described as a mutual parting, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Pittsburgh will sign fellow corner Asante Samuel Jr. from the practice squad to fill Slay’s roster spot. Slay was a healthy scratch for the Steelers’ Week 13 game against the Bills, foreshadowing this decision.

Slay is interested in continuing his career, but he will need to wait a bit before being allowed to pick his next destination. Although Slay is on a one-year, $10MM deal, the two-time Super Bowl starter’s base salary is the veteran minimum (for his service time) at $1.26MM. That would not put a waiver claim off the table for a corner-needy club. If Slay is unclaimed by 3pm CT on Wednesday, he will head back to free agency.

The NFL’s oldest active corner, Slay had viewed this as most likely his final season. The 13th-year cover man reunited with ex-Lions DC Teryl Austin in Pittsburgh and started nine games. Pro Football Focus viewed Slay on the fringes of the middle class at the position, slotting him 71st out of 110 qualified options.

Slay has certainly played much better, as he enjoyed a quality prime. As evidenced from a free agency deal requiring $10MM, Slay generated interest when the Eagles cut him this offseason. It would not shock if he landed elsewhere to close one of the better CB careers in this era.

As we discussed in a Trade Rumors Front Office piece this offseason, the Steelers have not been shy about deploying aging corners. They traded for Jalen Ramsey this offseason, doing so two years after being Patrick Peterson‘s last stop; the future Hall of Famer played an age-33 season in Pittsburgh. The Mike Tomlin tenure has also seen Joe Haden, William Gay and Ike Taylor play into their 30s. With the Steelers residing at a crossroads following a one-sided loss to the Bills — a game that brought steady boos and calls for Tomlin’s ouster — they are shaking up their secondary.

The Steelers have experimented with Ramsey at safety, but Slay has continued to work in the boundary corner position — one that brought him considerable success since being a 2013 Lions draftee. Slay logged 422 outside CB snaps during a 10-game Steelers stint. The six-time Pro Bowler broke up three passes and did not log an interception. Slay did allow a 75% completion rate and a 108.0 passer rating as the closest defender. While he is charged with only one touchdown allowed as a Steeler, his performance fell short of expectations ahead of the healthy scratch.

Tuesday’s transaction also blocks other teams from making sales pitches to Samuel, who could have been poached from Pittsburgh’s practice squad. Added after an extensive visit tour last month, Samuel debuted for the Steelers — as a practice squad elevation — in Week 13. He played 28 defensive snaps in a backup role.

With teams seeing Samuel healthy, interest may well have come after he reverted back to the practice squad. But the 26-year-old CB is now on the 53-man roster, ending such speculation. The team will hope the four-year Chargers starter, whose free agency stalled because of neck surgery, can help out a pass defense ranking 28th.

Steelers, CB Darius Slay Agree To Deal

March 12th, 2025 at 3:41pm CST by Sam Robinson

Darius Slay‘s Steelers agreement is now final. After being rumored to be close to landing the veteran cornerback, Pittsburgh will indeed bring in the two-time Super Bowl starter.

The team is adding Slay on a one-year, $10MM pact, ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter reports. The deal comes fully guaranteed for Slay, who turned 34 shortly before the Eagles’ Super Bowl LIX win. Slay will join running back Kenneth Gainwell in changing Pennsylvania addresses this week. Slay will also rejoin ex-Lions DC Teryl Austin in Pittsburgh.

This deal comes minutes after the 2025 league year starting greenlit Slay’s official Philadelphia exit. The Eagles had planned to cut Slay for a bit, but teams cannot designate players as post-June 1 releases until 3pm CT today. The Steelers waited a bit, but they have added a boundary starter opposite Joey Porter Jr. The player who primarily worked in that role last season, Donte Jackson, joined the Chargers this week.

While this transaction will officially end the biannual Darius Slay-Darius Slayton divisional matchup, Slay did well to secure an opportunity quickly at an age when most corners are long retired. The batch of corners that topped this year’s free agent market were in their late 20s, scoring nice third contracts after smartly inking two- or three-year deals previously.

This is Slay’s fourth contract, illustrating the talent the ex-Eagles and Lions defender has displayed. He played two seasons on a three-year, $39MM Eagles accord, but after Philly drafted first- and second-round CBs last year, they bid farewell to Super Bowl LVII starters Slay and James Bradberry.

Bradberry missed all of last season, but Slay was in place as the veteran corner giving the Eagles experience while Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean acclimated. Slay started all 14 games he played last season and logged an 81% snap rate. That was slightly down from his previous seasons, though given Slay’s age and the Eagles’ deep CB depth chart last season, it makes sense. Slay, however, played at least 85% of the Eagles’ defensive snaps in each of their four playoff games — including an 88% Super Bowl LIX rate.

Pittsburgh had given Patrick Peterson a chance to play an age-33 season in 2023; the Steelers will bet on Slay having one more good year in the tank. Slay has planned for 2025 to be his finale. If so, he will work in a familiar system, as the six-time Pro Bowler began his ascent under Austin in Detroit. Austin coached the Lions’ defense from 2014-17; Slay’s issues with the Lions came after Matt Patricia‘s 2018 arrival. Patricia played a central role in the Eagles’ defensive descent in 2023, but Slay had signed off on a reunion. After the Eagles moved back on track with Vic Fangio, Slay reestablished momentum to gain a shot at a rare age-34 CB season.

Steelers In Talks With CB Darius Slay

March 10th, 2025 at 1:43pm CST by Adam La Rose

Darius Slay may not be moving very far as he prepares for the 2025 season. The All-Pro corner is on the Steelers’ radar, with Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz reporting a one-year agreement is in place.

Tom Pelissero of NFL Network cautions that Slay has still not yet been released by the Eagles and that no Pittsburgh arrangement has been worked out yet. The sides are in communication, however. The Eagles had been prepared to give Slay a post-June 1 release designation.

If the Eagles are unable to pry a low-level asset from the Steelers, the veteran corner looks to have a landing spot. Slay turned 34 in January, but he is coming off playing a starting role during the Eagles’ dominant Super Bowl LIX victory. Slay spent five seasons as an Eagles starter, coming over after a trade with the Lions.

Philadelphia used first- and second-round picks on corners (Quinyon Mitchell, Cooper DeJean), and both players impressed as rookies. Slay, however, maintained a regular role for a No. 1-ranked defense. Slay played 81% of the Eagles’ defensive snaps last season and was on the field for 88% of the team’s defensive plays in Super Bowl LIX. The 12-year veteran has 28 career interceptions.

The Steelers, who have a recent history with older corners thanks to their Patrick Peterson addition, lost Donte Jackson to the Chargers today and have Cameron Sutton unsigned. The team still has Joey Porter Jr. under contract for two more seasons but now needs a boundary starter alongside Porter and slot Beanie Bishop.

Slay could fit the bill as a temporary fix, and he has a past with Steelers DC Teryl Austin. Formerly the Lions’ DC, Austin was in place in that role for four seasons. That stay overlapped with Slay’s Motor City tenure, and it it would stand to reason if Austin has provided a strong recommendation here. Slay’s eventual exit will make for three impact Eagles defenders to leave in free agency; Milton Williams and Josh Sweat found new homes today.

Eagles To Release Darius Slay

March 3rd, 2025 at 11:28pm CST by Adam La Rose

Darius Slay‘s decorated tenure with the Eagles is coming to an end. The Pro Bowl corner will be released, as first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Such a scenario has been raised recently, meaning the move does not come as a complete surprise. Eyeing one more year in the NFL, Slay will now need to find a new home for the second time in his career. Schefter notes this will be processed as a post-June 1 cut.

As a result, the Eagles will see $4.32MM in cap savings while generating a dead money charge of $9.44MM which can be spread across two years. No guaranteed salary remained on Slay’s pact for 2025, the final year of the deal. By moving on this offseason, Philadelphia will avoid paying out an option bonus of roughly $5MM which was due on September 1. Slay will officially become a free agent at the start of the new league year.

A seven-year stint with the Lions ended in 2020 when Slay was traded to the Eagles. He was a stalwart in the secondary during his time in Philadelphia, collecting three of his six Pro Bowl nods during that span. Of course, Slay’s tenure with the team will be best remembered for the two Super Bowl appearances – including one title – he played a central role in.

Slay’s time with the Eagles appeared to be coming to an end in 2023, but an agreement was reached allowing him to remain in the fold. The former All-Pro racked up between one and three interceptions during each of his first four Philadelphia campaigns, but he was held without one during the regular season in 2024. Slay was nevertheless a key figure on the Eagles’ run to the Super Bowl. Still, the decision to use first- and second-round picks on the CB position in last year’s draft (Quinyon Mitchell, Cooper DeJean) foreshadowed a parting of ways.

While Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz notes an Eagles reunion (at a reduced cost compared to the $16MM Slay was owed for 2025) could be in play, the team has other young options to turn to. Mitchell, DeJean and Kelee Ringo are all attached to their rookie contracts; Isaiah Rodgers is a pending free agent but retaining him on a low-cost deal could be a priority for Philadelphia. As the team continues to transition to a younger secondary, Slay should still have a notable market.

Any number of suitors will pursue starting-caliber options at the cornerback position, and even at the age of 34 Slay could serve as an effective one-year rental. The Mississippi State product preferred to finish his career with the Eagles, but he recently noted a return to the Lions represented his next-best scenario. Carlton Davis is a pending free agent, and losing him would leave Detroit in need of a first-team replacement.

Failing that, other teams could emerge especially since Slay will be available on a one-year pact (provided he intends to stick to his stated timeline of retiring after the 2025 campaign). It will be interesting to see where his final NFL campaign takes place.

Eagles Expected To Move On From CB Darius Slay, Re-Sign CB Isaiah Rodgers?

February 23rd, 2025 at 9:12pm CST by Rory Parks

Eagles cornerback Darius Slay has indicated he wants to retire at the end of the upcoming season. He also said he would like to finish his playing career with Philadelphia, and his contract with the club does run through 2025.

However, there has been some question as to whether the Eagles will retain the six-time Pro Bowler, and according to Eliot Shorr-Parks of 94WIP.com, the club is not expected to bring Slay back. Given the high quality of Slay’s performance even as he nears the end of his career – he limited opposing passers to an 81.9 QB rating in 2024 and finished with a strong 73.3 overall grade from Pro Football Focus – one would think that such a decision would be largely motivated by salary cap considerations.

But releasing or trading Slay prior to June 1 would result in a dead money charge of $22.71MM and would actually decrease Philadelphia’s cap space. Even a post-June 1 maneuver would create only $4.32MM of space while still saddling the team with over $9MM of dead money.

That makes Shorr-Parks’ report even more intriguing, especially since fellow corner Isaiah Rodgers is an impending free agent. Shorr-Parks believes the Eagles could have bigger plans for Rodgers, who saw a modest 36% snap share in 2024 after serving a year-long suspension in 2023 for violating the NFL’s gambling policy.

Despite the somewhat limited action, Rodgers played well last season, finishing as PFF’s 24th-best corner out of 116 qualified players (just one spot below Slay, albeit in a considerably smaller sample size). One of the biggest reasons for Philadelphia’s turnaround from its one-and-done showing in the 2023 playoffs to a Super Bowl title in 2024 was the improvement of its pass defense, and Rodgers – along with rookies Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean – was a key addition to the secondary.

Shorr-Parks suggests Rodgers – who is a popular and vocal player – could be retained on a fairly modest two-year contract worth around $10MM. He could also take over Slay’s role and play opposite Mitchell as a starting boundary corner, which would allow Super Bowl hero DeJean to remain in the slot. The team is still rostering 2023 fourth-rounder Kelee Ringo as well, and he could at least compete for the CB2 gig (though defensive coordinator Vic Fangio appears to prefer Rodgers to Ringo).

If the Eagles do move on from Slay, the longtime Lion has said he would like to return to Detroit. The Lions could certainly be in the market for CB help, particularly if Carlton Davis departs in free agency.

Darius Slay Wants To Retire After 2025 Season, Open To Lions Return

February 20th, 2025 at 11:57am CST by Nikhil Mehta

FENRUARY 20: During an appearance on the St. Brown Podcast (video link), Slay repeated that his preference would be to remain with the Eagles for 2025, the final year of his pact. In the event his time in Philadelphia were to come to an end, though, the former Lion added his next choice would be to return to Detroit. Slay spent his first seven years in the Motor City, and especially if Carlton Davis were to depart in free agency the Lions could be in the market for a cornerback addition. That will of course be a moot point if the Eagles retain Slay for next year.

FEBRUARY 5: Eagles cornerback Darius Slay‘s current focus is winning the first Super Bowl of his career, but he has already thought about his plans for the 2025 season and beyond.

The 12-year veteran would like to play one more season before retiring, per Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post, and he’d prefer to finish his career in Philadelphia.

“Next year will most likely be my last,” said Slay during Super Bowl media availability. “I would love for it to be with the Philadelphia Eagles.”

The eight-time Pro Bowler is still playing at a high level despite his age, though 2024 was his first interception-less season since his 2013 rookie year. He has missed eight games due to injury over the last two seasons, including a four-game absence in 2023 due to knee surgery. By the time the 2025 season ends, Slay will be 35 years old, making retirement a natural next step.

Slay’s comments indicate that a return to Philadelphia next season is not a certainty, though his contract would make it difficult to move on. After renegotiating his deal in 2023, his 2025 cap hit comes in just under $13.8MM, per OverTheCap, an affordable price for a starting boundary corner. A release before the new league year would force the Eagles to account for $22.7MM as a dead cap hit in 2025, a difficult proposition considering their cap situation and need to sign key pending free agents like Zack Baun. A post-June 1 release would allow the Eagles to spread Slay’s dead cap hits between 2025 and 2026, but they would also have to pick up his $16.1MM option bonus and account for it as dead money.

As a result, the best option for both sides seems to be Slay playing out his contract in Philadelphia as he desires. The Eagles could then restructure his deal to allow for a post-June 1 retirement designation, as the Rams did for Aaron Donald to spread out his remaining dead money.

Eagles CB Darius Slay Addresses Playing Future

July 12th, 2024 at 2:22pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Eagles made a number of cornerback additions this offseason, highlighted by the selections of Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean in the first two rounds of the draft. The team still has James Bradberry and Darius Slay in the mix, although those veterans are no doubt closer to the end of their careers than the beginning.

In the latter’s case, two years remain on his deal. Slay’s Philadelphia future came into question last offseason when the team appeared to be prepared to release him. An extension was worked out, though, and the 33-year-old is now set to continue as a starting perimeter corner on an Eagles defense which struggled down the stretch in 2023. Slay is aware, however, that his time in the NFL is nearing an end.

“Ahh s—. Not too many,” he said when asked about about more years he intends to play (via Dave Zangaro of NBC Sports Philadelphia). “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. I’m ready to be a full-time daddy and stuff.”

Slay has been a full-time starter throughout his four-year Eagles tenure. That could remain the case in 2024 with Bradberry facing the possibility of transitioning to safety in the waning stages of his career. Mitchell, DeJean and free agent addition Isaiah Rodgers are among the contenders for notable defensive playing time this season. Given their collective lack of experience at the pro level, Slay is a natural fit in a mentorship role.

The former Lion has earned a Pro Bowl nod in each of the past three seasons, collecting eight interceptions during that span. Slay will be counted on to remain a productive member of the Eagles’ defense – a unit now led by Vic Fangio – for at least the coming campaign. He could stay in the fold for 2025 (a year in which he is scheduled to receive $16MM) but beyond that questions will linger about his playing future. Considering his remarks, Slay should not be expected to target a deal allowing his NFL tenure to continue deep into the 2020s.

Eagles CB Darius Slay Aiming For Postseason Return

December 25th, 2023 at 2:16pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Eagles were without Darius Slay during their most recent loss after he underwent knee surgery. No firm recovery timeline is in place, but the All-Pro corner recently provided an update on his health status.

When speaking to the media, Slay said the knee issue he had been dealing with dated all the way back to 2019. After attempting to continue playing through it this season, his mobility dropped to 30%, leading to the decision to go under the knife. Slay declined to add if would suit up again in the regular season, but he said he will be available in time for the playoffs (h/t EJ Smith of the Philadelphia Inquirer).

Getting the five-time Pro Bowler back at any point would be a welcomed development for a reeling Eagles defense, but a path is in place for Philadelphia to earn the top spot in the NFC East with or without him the rest of the way. Resting until the postseason would help Slay’s recovery process, but the team’s secondary could benefit from his return earlier than that.

Slay has had another productive campaign in 2023. The 32-year-old has collected 57 tackles, 14 pass deflections and a pair of interceptions (one of which was returned for a touchdown). He has also delivered coverage statistics roughly in line with his two most recent campaigns, although the Eagles’ pass defense has been a sore spot this year. The team enters today’s contest surrendering an average of 255 yards per game through the air, which ranks 27th in the league.

The return of slot corner Avonte Maddox will provide a boost on the backend, and having Slay back no later than the postseason will give the Eagles another starter as the team transitions to Matt Patricia handling play-calling responsibilities. With Slay having not been placed on IR, no roster transaction will be needed for him to return to the lineup.

Eagles CB Darius Slay Sidelined After Knee Surgery

December 16th, 2023 at 10:47am CST by Ben Levine

The Eagles will be without a key defender for at least Monday night’s game against the Seahawks. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, cornerback Darius Slay underwent arthroscopic knee surgery this week that will sideline him for at least one game.

While coach Nick Sirianni declined to say exactly how long Slay would be out, he did reveal that the cornerback is expected back on the field by the end of the regular season. With only four games remaining on the regular season schedule, this means Slay will likely avoid a trip to the injured reserve.

The veteran defensive back has been dealing with a knee issue for the entire season. The injury forced him to miss Philly’s Week 6 loss to the Jets, and Slay has only practice once over the past two weeks. With the Eagles sitting towards the top of the NFC, the team is clearly hoping to get Slay right before the playoffs.

Despite the lingering injury, the five-time Pro Bowler is having another productive season in 2023. In 12 starts, Slay has collected 57 tackles, 14 passes defended, and two interceptions (including a pick-six). Pro Football Focus has Slay ranked 41st among 119 qualifying cornerbacks, with the site giving him especially high marks for his coverage.

With Slay sidelined, it’s uncertain who will step into the starting lineup. Kelee Ringo seems like the most likely candidate to start opposite James Bradberry, with the rookie fourth-round pick recently jumping Josh Jobe on the depth chart. Per ESPN’s Jeff McLane, the Eagles could also consider moving Bradley Roby from the slot to the outside while Slay is sidelined.

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