NFL Insider Names This Eagles Veteran As Candidate For Salary Cap Cut

While Philadelphia Sports Fans still bask in the glow of the Eagles winning Super Bowl 59, the organization is turning its attention to the key issues that need to be addressed this offseason.

According to Spotrac, the Eagles have 15 Unrestricted Free Agents for the 2025 NFL Offseason. The most likely outcome is that at least half of those players return to play in Philadelphia next season. That list of free agents is headlined by some important players from the Super Bowl Championship Team:

-Defensive End Josh Sweat
-Linebacker Zack Baun
-Offensive Lineman Mehki Becton
-Defensive Tackle Milton Williams
-Running Back Kenny Gainwell
-Cornerback Isaiah Rodgers

But one NFL Insider says there is another player who could be a bigger decision for Philadelphia this offseason.

This Member of the 2024 Eagles Team A Candidate For Salary Cap Casualty

On the ESPN Television show Get Up, NFL Insider Dan Graziano named players who could be Salary Cap Casualties this offseason. The Eagles are one of the teams discussed who could be making difficult decisions with their roster this offseason:

"This is the time of year when veterans, who we have associated with certain teams for (years) start to be cut for Cap (Savings) reasons. A couple of names to keep an eye on (includes) Tyler Lockett in Seattle is a guy who is coming close to the end of (his) contract. Darius Slay with the Eagles has a big cap number (for the 2025 season), they are going to have to work something out if they want to keep him around."

Slay has started 73 games over the last five seasons in Philadelphia. The three-time Pro Bowl Selection has been a reliable veteran at the Cornerback position and key player for two teams that have reached the Super Bowl.

Slay has said multiple times on his Big Play Slay Podcast that he wants to one more season in Philadelphia and he only wants to play 13 NFL seasons.  According to Over The Cap, Slay has a $13.765 Million Salary Cap number for the 2025 season.

The Eagles have a few different options with Slay:

-If they trade or release him before June 1st, Slay would account for a $22.7 Million Dead Cap Hit
-If the Eagles release or trade Slay after June 1st, he would account for a $9.4 Million Dead Cap Hit
-If the Eagles restructure Slay's contract, the Cornerback would be playing on what is the equivalent of a one-year deal worth $13.7 Million and there would be zero dead cap money after the 2025 season.

We know that Slay was an important leader for the Eagles during the 2024 season as a mentor for Rookies Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean. So if Slay wants to stay in Philadelphia and the Eagles Front Office is willing to restructure his contract, both sides can avoid a divorce.

Remember after the 2022 NFL season, Slay was almost let go by the Eagles and there were reports that Slay was planning to sign with the Baltimore Ravens in Free Agency. But Philadelphia switched gears after CJ Gardner-Johnson bolted and the Eagles gave Slay a new 3-year deal with $24.5 million guaranteed and worth up to $39 million.

If the Eagles do retain Slay for the 2025 season, that will make likely they will not spend the money to retain some of their big-name free agents. Josh Sweat hired Drew Rosenhaus to be his new agent and he is expected to get a 3-year contract worth up to $60 million.

Milton Williams is another defensive player the Eagles will have decide whether to keep or not if they retain Slay. The soon-to-be 26-year old Defensive Lineman is projected to get a three-year, $36 Million contract, which would give him the same Salary Cap hit as Slay in 2025.

Here is the full list of Eagles Free Agents for the 2025 NFL Offseason: