The Philadelphia Eagles’ cornerback situation remains a work in progress, with Darius Slay, a five-time Pro Bowl pick, the sole certainty for the 2024 season.
Despite his advanced age, Slay, who was 33 on New Year’s Day and would be 34 if the Eagles make the playoffs for the fourth straight year in January 2025, is still thriving at a young man’s position, and the organisation believes the veteran is still doing well.
“Obviously, you look at the year Slay had — another Pro Bowl season for him,” Roseman said at the NFL’s Annual Meetings earlier this week. “One of the captains. He still has explosiveness tools in his body. He did an amazing job when we had him on No.
The Eagles’ other starters from last season were James Bradberry and slot CB Avonte Maddox, who had already been released after suffering his second consecutive season of injuries.
Bradberry is still around for the time being, despite significantly underperforming in 2023. He may or may not return, depending on what happens in the April draft and/or the remainder of what Roseman refers to as talent-gathering season.
Bradberry will turn 31 in August, and releasing the veteran immediately, as some fans wanted, would cost the Eagles just under $11 million in cap space. That figure falls to a more manageable $6.1 million after June 1, allowing Roseman to remain patient as events develop.
If an upgrade is in the plans, Roseman could leave Bradberry. However, if the veteran remains the best option, Bradberry is expected to be driven to prove that his 2023 season was a bad exception.
“I think it’s obvious to everyone, including [Bradberry], that JB didn’t have the year that he was expecting and that we were expecting,” Roseman went on to say. “I think, obviously, he understands that and he is driven to show that he is the player that he was in 2022.”
Bradberry was named second-team All-Pro in 2022, earning a three-year, $38 million contract with $20 million in guaranteed.
The Eagles are very high on second-year outside CB Kelee Ringo, who was acquired at the top of the 2023 fourth round for a 2024 third-round pick a year ago. Ringo was a difference-maker on special teams as a gunner, demonstrating his quickness and length when forced into action at the corner late.
