Darius Slay says he came very close to joining the Ravens, revealing they were the first team to call and ‘offered just what I wanted’ – before getting his wish to re-sign with the Eagles
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All-Pro Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Darius Slay revealed he was inches away from switching conferences and joining the Baltimore Ravens.
After losing Super Bowl LVII, Slay was released after previously been given permission to seek a trade in the hopes of securing an improved deal.
Though, Slay returned as if he had never left, with the two sides working together to finalize a two-year, $42m extension — with $24.5m guaranteed.
‘I was almost — this close — a Baltimore Raven. I was this close,’ Slay revealed on his podcast Big Play Slay, holding his fingers inches apart.
‘But I wanted to be an Eagle. I stayed an Eagle because I know we were going to figure something out.’
Darius Slay revealed he was incredibly close to joining the Ravens prior to re-signing with PHI
Slay agreed a $42million ($24.5m guaranteed) contract extension with the Philadelphia Eagles
‘The Baltimore Ravens were the first team that called. They offered just what I wanted.
‘I said, “If the Eagles do that, I’m going to stay an Eagle.” So, it was nice now. I was almost a Raven. I was almost a different bird!
‘I’m here [in Philadelphia] for three more years, that’s what I wanted. We good.’
The new deal follows Slay’s three-year, $50.05m contract awarded to him after arriving via trade from Detroit in 2020.
In exchange for Slay’s acquisition, Philadelphia traded away a 2020 third and fifth-round pick to the Lions.
Slay, a five-time Pro Bowler and one-time First-team All-Pro, will have his cornerback partner James Bradberry back with him this season.
The Eagles re-signed the Alabama native to a three-year, $38m deal (20m guaranteed). The NFC East champs will be without CJ Gardner-Johnson however, after he joined Detroit on a one-year fully-guaranteed, $6.5m deal.
Five-time Pro Bowl corner Slay started all 17 games in 2022 and registered 14 pass breakups
Slay will once again be in the secondary alongside James Bradberry, who signed an extension
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