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Eagles Release Darius Slay, Cutting Ties With 6-Time Pro Bowler

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Author Dylan MacKinnon
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JANUARY 19: Nolan Smith Jr. #3 and Darius Slay Jr. #2 of the Philadelphia Eagles react against the Los Angeles Rams during the fourth quarter in the NFC Divisional Playoff at Lincoln Financial Field on January 19, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Football can be a cold business. After Darius Slay helped the Eagles win their 2nd ever Super Bowl, his time in the city of Philadelphia has come to an end. The Eagles have cut ties with the 6-time Pro Bowler according to Adam Schefter.

The move does not come as a shock. With Slay turning 34 back in January, the Eagles being deep at Cornerback, and him counting for $13.7 million against the cap in 2025, many predicted the Eagles would release Slay. Today’s news just confirms it. The cut has a post-June 7th designation, meaning the Eagles will save an estimated $4.3 million in cap space this season.

Slay said he wants to play 1 more season. If not with the Eagles, ideally with the Lions. He could still sign back on a smaller deal with the Eagles, but now it looks like it will be Lions Slay ends his career with, assuming they want to sign him.

What is The Eagles’ Plan After Darius Slay?

What the Eagles plan to do at the other outside corner spot is unclear. They could move Cooper DeJean out there. He was fantastic as a slot corner last year. Some scouts did not believe he could play outside coming into the pros, but others believed he could play anywhere.

They could also re-sign Isaiah Rodgers and play him outside where he gave them quality reps this season, and keep Dejean inside at the slot where we already now he plays at a high level. They also still have Kelee Ringo and Eli Ricks.

We will get a better sense of their plan once free agency starts, and then after the draft. But Darius Slay’s time in Philly seems to have come to an end.

Slay first came to Philly in a trade back in 2020 for a 3rd and 5th-round pick. he has been nothing short of fantastic since. Slay brought stability to what had been a trouble position for the Eagles for a long time. Some of the pieces still struggled around him, but the Eagles knew they had at least 1 reliable corner every season while Slay was here.

Even at 34 this past season, he still played at a high level. But he is a bit of a unicorn still playing that well at 34 as a corner. With the Eagles youth movement at corner, they felt it was time to move on.

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Dylan MacKinnon is The Digital Content Coordinator For 97.5 The Fanatic. he has been an Eagles, Flyers, Sixers, and Flyers fan his whole life. He graduated from Rutgers University with a Bachelors in Journalism. Dylan has worked at the Fanatic since 2016, starting as an Intern, moving to the Street team, and eventually was hired as an Associate Producer before settling into his current role in the Digital Department. You may hear him referred to on-air as "The D-Train."

5 NFL Combine Winners Eagles Fans Should Take Note Of

  • TE- Terrence Ferguson- Oregon

    As stated, The Eagles need to start thinking about the future at TE. Dallas Goedert is going into the final year of his deal. With so much money already invested in the offense, it is easy to see him becoming a cap casualty. The draft might be where they find the next guy.

    In terms of Relative Athletic Score (RAS), which takes the player’s height, size, measurables, and drill performances into account, Ferguson got a 9.91 out of 10. The only area he was scored lowly was his weight. he is only 245 lbs, which is sleight for a TE. But his drill performances were all elite

    • 40 Yard Dash- 4.63 secs (1st)
    • 10-yard Split- 1.55 Secs (1st)
    • Vertical- 39″ (1st)
    • Broad- 10’6″ (1st)

    He has been a projected day-2 pick. This performance could shoot him up the boards, but there are concerns outside of his athleticism. He is not the best blocker yet (his low weight could play a part in that). His production was also not the best for this TE group. He only had the 7th most yards, 10th most catches, and is outside the top 30 for TDs with only 3 this past year. He is more of a project.

    But the Eagles do have time to work on a project. They have Dallas Goedert for another year. So if Ferguson is still there at pick 64, or falls enough where they could trade up for him, he could make sense for them, where a team looking for someone to step up right away may be looking for a pro-ready prospect.

    NFL on X (formerly Twitter): "Oregon TE Terrance Ferguson improves his 40 time on his 2nd attempt 👏📺: #NFLCombine on @NFLNetwork📱: Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/oBDpVsVMNS / X"

    Oregon TE Terrance Ferguson improves his 40 time on his 2nd attempt 👏📺: #NFLCombine on @NFLNetwork📱: Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/oBDpVsVMNS

  • DT- Derrick Harmon- Oregon

    Harmon was considered a borderline 1st round playing going into the combine. But between his measurements and his performance, he gave himself a much better chance to hear his name called on day 1 of the draft.

    To start, he checked in at 6ft4, 314 LBs, with a wingspan of 34 and 3/8 inches. But then he ran a 4.95 40-yard dash. Put all that together with his elite college production, it is hard to see why he is not a more highly regarded prospect. He led all DTs in this draft with 55 pressures this past season.

    NFL on X (formerly Twitter): "Derrick Harmon impressed throughout his drills 📈 @OregonFootball📺: #NFLCombine on @NFLNetwork📱: Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/RApm9yEw3q / X"

    Derrick Harmon impressed throughout his drills 📈 @OregonFootball📺: #NFLCombine on @NFLNetwork📱: Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/RApm9yEw3q

  • DE- Shemar Stewart- Texas A&M

    No one did more for their stock than Shemar Stewart. People who had him on their radar before the Combine anticipated a big performance, and Stewart did not disappoint. He put on one of the best performances we have ever seen for an Edge Rusher. His RAS was 9.9. The 3rd highest score between 1985 and 2025 for an Edge Rusher.  

    Kent Lee Platte on X (formerly Twitter): "Shemar Stewart is a DE prospect in the 2025 draft class. He scored an unofficial 9.99 #RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 3 out of 1802 DE from 1987 to 2025. Splits projected, Times unofficial.https://t.co/r9HXsXwSH4 pic.twitter.com/V2jH2WF8EJ / X"

    Shemar Stewart is a DE prospect in the 2025 draft class. He scored an unofficial 9.99 #RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 3 out of 1802 DE from 1987 to 2025. Splits projected, Times unofficial.https://t.co/r9HXsXwSH4 pic.twitter.com/V2jH2WF8EJ

    • 40 Yard Dash – 4.59 (4th)
    • 10-Yard Split- 1.58 (3rd)
    • Vertical- 40″ (2nd)
    • Broad- 10’11” (1st)

    Mind you, he did that as someone who is 6ft5 and 267 LBs. 

    The question people will have is his poor college production. the tape and underlying stats suggest he is better than the stats show, but there is a concern if he can turn his elite athleticism into real on-the-field production. 

    He might have also might have put himself out of the Eagles’ range with his combine performance. But if the production issues cause him to tumble on draft night, he is a name worth monitoring for the Eagles. 

  • OT- Hollin Pierce- Rutgers

    This is not a name to look out for on day 1, or even day 2. But we know the Eagles have found diamonds in the rough along the O-Line in the past. Jordan Mailata and Jason Kelce were both day 3 picks who turned into starters. Could Hollin Pierce from Rutgers be the next?

    We know the Eagles love their freakishly big Offensive Linemen. Well, Hollin Pierce fits that bill. He is among the biggest OTs ever measured at the combine, with an elite wingspan to go with it. 

    Trevor Sikkema on X (formerly Twitter): "Just because it's hilarious...OT Hollin Pierce Combine measurementsHT: 6083 (97th percentile)WT: 341 (95th percentile)Arms: 36 (94th percentile)Wingspan: 88 1/4 (99th percentile)Second longest wingspan of any tackle prospect since 1999 / X"

    Just because it's hilarious...OT Hollin Pierce Combine measurementsHT: 6083 (97th percentile)WT: 341 (95th percentile)Arms: 36 (94th percentile)Wingspan: 88 1/4 (99th percentile)Second longest wingspan of any tackle prospect since 1999

    He has some techniques to work on. But who better to coach up someone with his type of freaky measurables than Jeff Stotuland? He actually has some really good hand technique already, and almost never gets called for a penalty. He needs to learn to use his feet better. But for a day 3 project, to groom behind Lane Johnson for a couple of years, it seems like a match made in heaven. 

  • DT- Darius Alexander- Toledo

     

    The Eagles took one Toledo Senior Bowl Standout, so why not another? Alexander did a lot for his draft stock at Mobile, he helped it even more at the Combine. He showed he has an elite combo of speed and power that could make him a force at the next level.

    • 40 Yard Dash- 4.95 (5th)
    • 10-yard Split- 1.72 (4th)
    • 3-Cone Drill- 7.6 (4th)
    • Bench Press- 28 reps (2nd)

    Like Quinyon Mitchell did, he will get knocked for playing in the MAC. But also like Mitchell, he showed he can hang with players from bigger conferences when he dominated the Senior Bowl. he has the size, power, and long arms you want in a DT. His production at Toledo against the run and the pass was great. If teams overlook him like they overlooked Quinyon, it could once again be to the Eagles’ benefit. 

    NFL on X (formerly Twitter): "4.96u from Toledo DL Darius Alexander. 😤 @Darius2019📺: #NFLCombine on @NFLNetwork📱: Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/JwVpnisiwy / X"

    4.96u from Toledo DL Darius Alexander. 😤 @Darius2019📺: #NFLCombine on @NFLNetwork📱: Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/JwVpnisiwy

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