Darius Slay, a former Detroit Lions cornerback, may be on the verge of reuniting with his old team after a surprising move by the Philadelphia Eagles. Slay, who had a successful seven-year tenure with the Lions before joining the Eagles for a productive five-season stretch, helped secure a Super Bowl ring with Philadelphia. However, the Eagles decided to release the 34-year-old to free up cap space, leaving Slay’s future uncertain. Despite the release, Slay is still eyeing one last shot at an NFL title.
In an earlier appearance on Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown’s podcast, Slay expressed his desire to return to Detroit for another stint, believing he has enough left in the tank for a final, productive season. He has frequently spoken about the potential of rejoining the Lions now that they have developed a winning culture under head coach Dan Campbell. Though his performance in the 2024 season may not have been his best, Slay’s stellar postseason play still proves he can deliver in clutch moments against top-tier NFC opponents.
While Slay earned a Pro Bowl selection in 2023, his overall athleticism has slightly declined. The Eagles seem set with young cornerbacks like Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean, making Slay’s time in Philadelphia come to an end. Detroit, however, could benefit from a reunion, as the team doesn’t need Slay to be a superstar but rather a seasoned mentor. With second-year corners Terrion Arnold and the injury-prone Ennis Rakestraw struggling, Slay’s leadership could be invaluable.
Combining Slay’s experience with the promising young talent of Arnold and Rakestraw, along with the Lions’ impressive safety duo of Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch, could solidify Detroit’s defense. Even as he ages, Slay still has enough left to contribute to the team’s pursuit of a championship. His legacy in Detroit is steadily improving, and what better way to cap it off than by returning to the team that drafted him and helping them finally end their long Super Bowl drought?
