NFL Rumors: Eagles Darius Slay "Almost Joined" AFC North Team

Darius Slay, the Pro Bowl cornerback for the Philadelphia Eagles, had been the subject of trade rumors and free agency negotiations for the past month.

Slay recently revealed on his "Big Play Slay" podcast that the Baltimore Ravens were interested in signing him this offseason, and he also had an interest in joining the club. However, Slay ultimately decided to stay with the Eagles, signing a two-year contract extension.

"This close, a Baltimore Raven, I was this close, this close. But, you know, I wanted to be an Eagle, I stayed an Eagle."

#Eagles All-Pro cornerback Darius Slay says the Baltimore #Ravens were the first team to call him and gave him the perfect offer:

“This close, a Baltimore Raven, I was this close, this close. But, you know I wanted to be an Eagle, I stayed an Eagle“
pic.twitter.com/vcmHaxpud4
— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) April 2, 2023

The Ravens have been in need of adding talent to their cornerback room, with the possible departure of Marcus Peters as an unrestricted free agent. Slay's potential acquisition would have been significant for the Ravens, as he would have formed a high-level cornerback pairing with Marlon Humphrey.

The Ravens have also brought in cornerback Rock Ya-Sin for a free-agent visit, further emphasizing their focus on strengthening the position.

Darius Slay revealed how he was almost a Raven 👀 pic.twitter.com/q2Td7sRGB1
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) April 3, 2023

Slay's decision to stay with the Eagles is good news for Eagles fans, who hope that he can help lead the team to another successful season. Slay had a solid 2022 season, making 40 tackles and three interceptions, while tying for 12th in the NFL with 14 passes defended.

He also played a key role in the Eagles' league-leading pass defense, registering 14 pass breakups and three interceptions.

Throughout his career, Slay has played in 151 games (141 starts) and accumulated 26 interceptions and 513 tackles.

He is a five-time Pro Bowl selection, including two of his three seasons with the Eagles. Photo Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports