Huge Setback: The departure of 4 Baltimore Ravens players might cause the downfall of the….
This past season, the Philadelphia Eagles lost Super Bowl LVII to the Kansas City Chiefs 38-35, narrowly missing out on the Lombardi Trophy. The Birds will assess what they can do better now that they are only one victory away from the crown to ensure things are different in 2023. The issue is that Darius Slay’s departure will be one of the defense’s biggest blows.
The cornerback will allegedly be released by the Eagles because they were unable to come to an agreement on a modified contract. Slay, who has 55 total tackles, 40 of which were solo, and three interceptions, is coming off his seventh Pro Bowl selection.
Philadelphia will also be without starting linebackers Marcus Epps, T.J. Edwards, and Javon Hargrave in addition to Slay. With those guys on the team, the Birds’ 2022 pass defense allowed 179.8 yards per game, which was the best in the NFL.
Before the year ends, Slay ought to have a few suitors. Having said that, these are Darius Slay’s top three potential destinations in 2023 NFL free agency.
3. The Jaguars of Jacksonville
The Jacksonville Jaguars are one squad that might benefit from Slay’s talents. The squad finished the 2022 season 7-2 and secured a postseason berth after a dismal start to the campaign. With quarterback Trevor Lawrence at the helm and a roster full of talented young players, Jacksonville may advance even farther in the coming years.
The Jaguars still need to get better in a few areas. They were among the lowest five, for example, in terms of passing yards allowed (4,055). Moreover, they lost six out of their eight games by a single point. For Jacksonville, things could have been even better with a stronger passing defense.
The Jaguars could greatly enhance that area by signing Slay. In a locker room full of youthful players, the cornerback may also be one of the more experienced guys. He may serve as a mentor to young defenders at the age of 32, which would be highly beneficial to their growth.
A strong defense might be the difference between the Cincinnati Bengals, Buffalo Bills, and Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC. With Slay, the Jaguars may have taken a step toward becoming a more formidable opponent in the conference. Even though it might be unlikely, he could be a valuable member of a Jacksonville club that can challenge the best teams.
2. The Ravens of Baltimore
The Baltimore Ravens are another team that might be in the market for a new defensive back. Chuck Clark is being traded to the New York Jets in return for a seventh-round pick in 2024. Marcus Peters has the option to leave the team as he is a free agent.
That’s why Darius Slay might be a possibility in Baltimore. He might contribute to the team’s improvement of its passing defense, which currently ranks in the bottom 10. The Ravens’ 3,947 yards allowed in the 2022 season was worse than the total of several non-playoff teams.
With Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase leading the Bengals’ offense in the same division, Baltimore might use additional secondary support. In those games, Slay’s pass protection would be invaluable. He earned the second-best number of pass breakups in Philadelphia’s defense this past season with 14.
There are still many issues to be resolved, even though Lamar Jackson’s contract predicament is absorbing the majority of Baltimore’s attention this summer. The Ravens might concentrate on other draft picks if Slay joins the team, which could persuade Jackson to stick with the group.
