Darius Slay apparently flirted with joining the Baltimore Ravens before ultimately choosing to remain with the Philadelphia Eagles a few weeks ago.
The veteran cornerback said he was “close” to relocating to Baltimore, with the team apparently being the first to call him. Instead, Slay decided to ink an extension with the Eagles.
“I was almost — this close — a Baltimore Raven,” Slay said on his podcast. “I was this close. This close. But I wanted to be an Eagle, I stayed an Eagle, because I know me and Howie [Roseman] were going to figure something out. But the Baltimore Ravens were the first team that called, and they offered just what I wanted, and I just said, if the Eagles do that, I’m going to stay an Eagle. It was nice. I almost was a Raven.”
With the five-time Pro Bowler running it back in Philadelphia, he will have an opportunity to complete some unfinished business. He helped lead the team to the Super Bowl last season, where it lost to the Kansas City Chiefs by just three points.
Slay was stellar in the championship game, recording four combined tackles and playing a key role in giving the Eagles a 10-point lead entering halftime. However, his team couldn’t contain Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs offense, which scored 24 points after intermission to break the hearts of the Eagles organization and its fans.
His decision this offseason will extend his stay in Philadelphia, where he has played since 2020. The Mississippi State University product began his Eagles stint after the Detroit Lions shipped him there in the 2020 offseason. In the past three seasons, the 32-year-old has totaled seven interceptions and 29 passes defended.
Prior to the trade, Slay had made a name for himself as one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL.
With the versatile player back on the roster, Philadelphia’s defense might not take that much of a hit, especially since the franchise also re-signed James Bradberry, who agreed to a three-year contract around the same time Slay signed his new deal. However, the Eagles have also lost some key free agents who have earned lucrative contracts elsewhere.
Only time will tell if Slay and the Eagles can make another run to the Super Bowl in the 2023 campaign.
