The NFL offseason has been a rollercoaster ride for the Philadelphia Eagles, who went from winning the Super Bowl to the fourth week of free agency in less than two months. Winning a championship with a stacked roster can make it difficult to retain players in the offseason, however, the Eagles have done a solid job of replacing departing veterans with fresh faces hungry to prove themselves.
Even though some ex-Eagles might find success outside the City of Brotherly Love, others won't be as fortunate. When it comes to those who could fall flat on their faces, one former Philadelphia defensive playmaker is on track to fail with his new team.
Former Eagles CB Darius Slay Will Fail With Steelers in 2025
Darius Slay is one of the many Eagles who left Philadelphia in March. The veteran cornerback will remain in-state for his fresh start after being released by the Eagles, having signed a one-year contract worth $10 million with the Pittsburgh Steelers once free agency opened.
On one hand, there's no doubt that fans will miss Slay. He's been a cornerstone of the Eagles secondary for the last five seasons, racking up 220 solo tackles, 56 broken-up passes, and nine interceptions (including two Pick-6s) while earning three Pro Bowl nods since the start of the 2020 season.
He also played a big role in any playoff success the Eagles saw, which included tallying 12 solo tackles and an NFL-leading five defended passes during the latest Super Bowl run.
On the other hand, there might not have been a better time than now for the Eagles to cut ties with the former Mississippi State product.
It isn't as if youth is on Slay's side anymore after turning 34 years old in January. He's no longer the elite defender that he once was, proven by his allowing 45 catches for 553 receiving yards and four touchdowns last season, which includes allowing a TD and a passer rating of at least 109.5 in two of the Eagles' last three playoff games.
Slay's performance is trending in the wrong direction, which is unlikely to change based on his age and recent injury history. He's missed eight games for various reasons since the start of 2023, which is the most absences he's had during any two-year window of his career. Those injury woes could persist if the Steelers overuse him based on name value alone.
At the end of the day, it's tough imagining a world where Slay lives up to his $10 million price tag. Eagles fans won't ever forget everything he accomplished in Philadelphia, however, they also won't lose much sleep over the veteran CB's departure if his regression continues.