Like many players who were plying their trade during the Matt Patricia era of Detroit Lions football, cornerback Darius Slay has been able to pick up a coveted Super Bowl ring after leaving town. After seven quality years in Detroit, Slay has amassed an equally impressive five-season stint with the Philadelphia Eagles.
While Slay played a very important role on the Eagles' championship defense, Philly decided to cut the 34-year-old veteran in the name of saving up some extra cap space. Slay may not be done with the NFL, however, as he is seemingly eyeing one last shot at a second Super Bowl ring.
In a past appearance on Lions receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown's podcast, Slay has said that he has one more good season in him and has consistently talked up the idea of trying to come back to the Lions for one more go-around now that Dan Campbell has installed a winning culture.
Even if Detroit gets this version of Slay, his standout play in the postseason has shown that whenever the Lions go up against one of the best in the NFC, he still has enough playmaking juice left over to come through when the chips are down.
Lions could reunite with Darius Slay after Eagles release
Slay made a Pro Bowl in 2023, but the 2024 season may not have been his finest effort due to his slight decline in overall athleticism. The Eagles seem to have their cornerback tandem for the next decade locked in thanks to 2024 draftees Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean.
The Lions don't need Slay to be Superman if they bring him back. However, with second-year corners Terrion Arnold and oft-injured Ennis Rakestraw not having the debut seasons many would have hoped for, a veteran mentor like Slay could end up being an invaluable asset.
Pairing Slay and those two youngsters with perhaps the NFC's best safety duo in Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch could help Detroit's defense sustain both the loss of Aaron Glenn and starters like Carlton Davis in free agency. Even in this aging state, Slay has more than enough gas left in the tank to aid a championship run.
Slay's legacy in Detroit, especially amid the chaos that surrounded him, is looking better with each passing year. What better way to end his career than by coming back to the team who drafted him and helping them break their decades-long Super Bowl drought?
