Looks Like Darius Slay is Back After All

Well, Howie Roseman just pulled the uno reverse card. Less than 24 hours after announcing a plan to release pro-bowl cornerback Darius Slay, 32, it was reported today that he will be staying with the Eagles. Slay agreed to a three-year, $42 million extension that includes $23 million fully guaranteed.

It should be noted that the Birds never actually released Slay. Yesterday, when the new league year started at 4:00p, the team had yet to announce his release, causing some commotion on social media that the Eagles and Slay’s camp might be trying to work something out.

And alas, it appears they did. It has also been reported that Slay’s new deal will free up cap space for the team.

Slay took to Twitter last night to announce his return to Philly, tweeting “Back like I never left!!! Run it back” just hours after tweeting “Nothing but love Philly!! Let’s see where we heading next..”

This dramatic turn of events comes on the heels of the news that DT Fletcher Cox will also be returning to the Eagles on a 1 year, $10 million deal.

So, in the last 48 hours, Howie Roseman has brought back James Bradberry, Fletcher Cox, and Darius Slay, and it is being reported by John Clark that they are “still trying hard” to resign C.J. Gardner-Johnson. The Toy Story, “hollup…Let him cook” meme comes to mind.

If Slay is indeed back, it will be interesting to see what the Eagles do in the draft. The consensus seemed to be that the Birds would draft a corner and defensive lineman, however, with Slay and Cox both returning, the team may now have the luxury to look elsewhere next month. Of course, Howie Roseman does have a track record of drafting players and having them sit for a year, such was the case with LB Nakobe Dean and DT Jordan Davis last season, so the possibility of drafting a CB or D-lineman still certainly exists.

NFL free agency has already been a whirlwind for the Eagles, so be sure to stay tuned because you never know when the next curveball is coming…