After tumultuous days, Darius Sleigh will remain with Eagles in 2023 – NBC10 Philadelphia

Just hours after the Eagles decided to release Darius Slay, the five-time Pro Bowl cornerback announced he would remain with the Eagles.

“Come back like I never left!!! Fire back,” Slay tweeted late Wednesday night.

Slay’s wife Jennifer, who is very active on social media, tweeted “WE HERE BABY” with a heart and three eagles emojis.

Sorey’s return was the culmination of a turbulent 12 hours that ended Sorey’s Eagles tenure, and he took to social media to share a touching farewell (“I just love Philly!! Where are we going next?”) Let’s see how it goes.”), said some of his teammates. Talks between the Eagles and Slay were first reported by John Clark of NBC Sports Philadelphia.

The Inquirer’s Jeff McClain tweeted Wednesday night that Slay’s restructured contract didn’t include new funding and would actually help the Eagles clear up much-needed cap space. . I wanted.

Sorey and the Eagles appeared to have stalled on a deal earlier in the day, with the Eagles looking to cut Sorey’s $26.1 million cap hit and Sorey looking for security beyond the 2023 season. However, the Eagles never actually released him, so they retained exclusive bargaining rights to him.

A few days of drama began when Sorey’s agent requested and was granted permission to ask for a grade. This was primarily seen as a means of establishing Slay’s value on the open market. It was difficult to imagine doing.

If the Eagles cut the popular veteran, they would have cleared $17 million in cap space on June 1, but until then they would have had to carry over all of their $26.1 million cap hits. That leaves him with $8.6 million in 2023 and $13.8 million in 2024.

Slay had another Pro Bowl season in 2022, but his play dipped somewhat in the second half of the season, reaching the age of 32 when cornerbacks begin to fall back.

Slay has 26 interceptions and two pick sixes. He has earned his seven INTs in his three years with the Eagles. His INT of 26 is his 12th most among active players.

With second-team All-Pro James Bradbury agreeing terms to a three-year deal with the Eagles early Wednesday, it looks like the Eagles will have both star cornerbacks in 2023, but there is. You may not have either at this point.

The Eagles also agreed to the terms of a one-year contract with Fletcher Cox on Wednesday. Earlier in the week, learning that Jason Kelce would be back in 2023, Brandon Graham signed a one-year deal that would include four Pro Bowlers all over the age of 30 and a 30-year-old in August. One of his age-old All-Pros is back with the Eagles.

The Eagles acquired Slay in a trade to the Lions in May 2020. The Eagles were able to strike out in the expensive cornerback market of free agency and acquire Slay in the 3rd and 5th rounds in the 2020 draft. signed a three-year contract.

The Eagles were also able to retain James Bradbury, who was a pending free agent. Bradbury has re-signed a three-year, $38 million deal. Bradbury, 29, was an All-Pro on his second team in 2022.

The Eagles are likely to push to re-sign pending free agent safety CJ Gardner Johnson as well.