Eagles' Darius Slay Addresses Trade Rumors: 'I Do Want to Finish My Career Here'

Eagles cornerback Darius Slay made it clear while speaking on his Big Play Slay podcast that he wants to spend his entire career in Philadelphia despite being linked in trade rumors this winter.

Slay said, via Dave Zangaro of NBC Sports Philadelphia:

"I know what's going on. I hear the rumors, I hear everything. I see everything all over the globe, all over the internet and I just want my fans to know Slay did not ask to be traded. But this is part of the business. There's no bad blood against neither one of us, me or Howie (Roseman). None of that. We all good, great understanding. It's just the business part of it. A lot of guys go up for trades, you know, they got a lot of money involved in this situation so it's nothing big, nothing too serious. It's just part of the business, man.

"I do want to finish my career as an Eagle but we'll see. We be looking forward to it, man. Got time here. But best believe, I do want to be an Eagle. But if my job requires me to go elsewhere, then I'll go. … I got a lot of years left in this game and I love this game, man. So it's only right for me to finish off strong."

ESPN's Dianna Russini reported Friday that the Eagles had granted Slay's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, permission to seek a trade. Russini added that Philadelphia is "still hopeful" of retaining Slay, who did not request a move.

Slay is entering the final year of a three-year $50 million deal he signed with the Detroit Lions before being traded to the Eagles in March 2020. He has a $17.0 million salary and a $26.1 million cap hit in 2023, per Spotrac.

The Eagles have just $6.6 million in cap space entering the new league year, which begins March 15, per Over The Cap.

With the likes of James Bradberry, Jason Kelce, Fletcher Cox, C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Miles Sanders set to become free agents, the Eagles need to clear some more cap space if they hope to retain those players.

If the Eagles release or trade Slay before June 1, they'll save just $4.8 million in 2023 while also incurring a $21.3 million dead cap charge, per Spotrac. A post-June 1 trade or release of Slay would save Philadelphia $16.9 million in 2023, though it would also take on dead cap charges of $9.3 million in 2023 and $12 million in 2024.

While Slay posted three interceptions, 14 pass breakups and 55 tackles in 17 games last season, he's a candidate to be cut because his play dropped off through the second half of the year. It also doesn't help that he's 32 years old and his contract will expire after the 2023 campaign.

After reaching the Super Bowl last season, Eagles general manager Howie Roseman will do his best to retool the roster for another run during the 2023 campaign. With the No. 10 and No. 31 picks in the 2023 draft, it'll be easier for Roseman to plug any holes Philadelphia has.

Still, if the Eagles trade Slay and don't re-sign Bradberry, they'll be thin in the secondary with Zech McPhearson, Josh Jobe, Mario Goodrich, Josiah Scott and Andre Chachere the only players still under contract.