Cowbell Corner

Philadelphia Eagles Release Former Mississippi State Star Darius Slay: Top 5 NFL Options

Darius Slay has been a star for the Eagles over the last few years, but he was released on Monday. Where will he likely play in 2025?
Pete Fiutak|
Dec 8, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Darius Slay Jr. (2) celebrates fourth down stop against the Carolina Panthers with safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson (8) late in the fourth quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
Dec 8, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Darius Slay Jr. (2) celebrates fourth down stop against the Carolina Panthers with safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson (8) late in the fourth quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images | Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

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Mississippi State Bulldogs

Top 5 NFL Teams for Former Eagles and Mississippi State Star Darius Slay

The Philadelphia Eagles need cap room, they have a great group of young corners in Cooper DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell to build around, and that meant former Mississippi State star Darius Slay had to be let go.

Fantastic with the Eagles, the 34-year-old Slay - who made 42 tackles with six interceptions in his two years at Mississippi State in 2011 and 2012 - leaves after making 63 tackles in the Super Bowl season.

Big Play Slay saved his best for the playoffs, making 14 stops in the four-game run with a key interception in the Wild Card win over the Packers and with three broken up passes in the Divisional Round victory over the Rams.

A free agent pickup by the Eagles after the 2019 campaign, Slay came up with three Pro Bowl seasons making 272 tackles with nine picks and 56 broken up passes in his six seasons.

So now what? Here are the five top potential landing spots.

5. San Francisco 49ers

Slay wouldn't exactly be a Final Piece type of pickup, but the 49ers will lose parts in the secondary this offseason. If he can come in at a reasonable price, he might fill a huge hole in a stopgap role.

4. Minnesota Vikings

Getting Slay would solve a few problems. The Vikings might need a veteran corner depending on how free agency goes. And getting Slay would keep him away from division rival Detroit and ...

3. Green Bay Packers

With the 23rd pick the Packers are in a perfect position to go with one of the young star corners in the upcoming draft - cornerback is a strength this year - but they need several new options.

2. Jacksonville Jaguars

It wouldn't be a shock if the Jaguars went with a corner in the second round, but that might not be it. They should take at least two, maybe three defensive backs, and they need a veteran mentor who can play right away.

1. Detroit Lions

The most likely option is to go back to Detroit.

Drafted in the second round - and 36th overall - by Detroit (one pick after the Eagles took Zach Ertz), Slay was a decent part of the rotation for four years before turning in an All-Pro season in 2017. The Lions need defensive back help, and few are better suited to work as a veteran leader of a secondary.

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Pete Fiutak
PETE FIUTAK

Notre Dame, Kansas, Illinois, and Mississippi State On SI. Publisher of CollegeFootballNews.com since 1998, writing more words about college football than any human ever. Worked for FOX Sports, USA TODAY, The Sporting News, and CBS Sports. America’s radio guest on ESPN, FOX, VSiN and several major market stations. Co-hosted shows on NFL Network, Big Ten Network, FOX Sports Radio, and for eight years was a talking head for Campus Insiders - now Stadium - including as an in-stadium co-host for the first four CFP National Championships. Heisman voter, FWAA Award winner, Doak Walker Award advisory board. Ordered by Keith Jackson to “call me Keith.” BlueSky @petefiutak.bsky.social and X @PeteFiutak

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