The Philadelphia Eagles have a bevy of different positions to address this offseason, but the one consensus among experts and analysts is that changes need to come in the secondary, and in a huge way.
Both starting corners from the 2019 season, Jalen Mills and Ronald Darby are free agents, and although Mills could still return, the Eagles need an upgrade at the position.
Cowboys’ Byron Jones and the Broncos’ Chris Harris Jr. are among the top projected free-agent corners, but Howie Roseman could circle back to a player that he’s pursued for the past two years.
According to Adam Schefter, Detroit Lions star cornerback Darius Slay can be had for the right compensation.
Lions have spoken with multiple teams about a potential trade for Pro Bowl CB Darius Slay, per sources. Any team that trades for Slay would have to compensate Detroit and Slay with a new deal. Other teams believe Slay will be traded this off-season, but Lions adamant on value.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 17, 2020
Slay has been seething mad about the organization’s decision to trade team captain Quandre Diggs to the Seattle Seahawks and it sounds like both parties are looking for a fresh start.
Recently, ESPN’s Mike Clay suggested Slay to the Eagles in a deal that would send fourth-year cornerback Sidney Jones and a third-round pick to the Lions in exchange.
Slay wants out badly and the Eagles need him even worse.
Slay is a Pro-Bowler and All-Pro caliber cornerback who had only allowed 15 completions on 27 targets for just 189 yards and one touchdown through November and is still one of the best in the game at his position.
Slay leads NFL with 82 passes broken up since 2015 and is one of just 2 cornerbacks named to 3 straight Pro Bowls (Jalen Ramsey). Adding Slay to the Eagles secondary could finally allow players like Jalen Mills if re-signed, Avonte Maddox, Cre’Von LeBlanc and Rasul Douglas to flourish, without the pressure of assuming a shutdown role.
Slay is currently in the top-15 highest-paid cornerback in the NFL according to Over The Cap, and he’d come at a decent rate, of $10 million per season.
Slay is set to hit free agency following the 2020 season, and the Eagles could lock him up long term with the talented cornerback still only 29 years old.
[vertical-gallery id=630130]