The Darius Slay Jr. chapter in Buffalo ended before it even had a chance to begin.
Earlier this week, the Bills made a bold move by claiming the veteran cornerback off waivers following his release from the Pittsburgh Steelers. But Slay never showed up.
Instead of reporting to One Bills Drive, he opted to sit tight, making it clear he had no intention of suiting up for Buffalo. In response, the Bills placed him on the Reserve/Did Not Report list - a procedural step that keeps his rights with the team without counting him against the 53-man roster.
That roster spot didn’t come free. To make room for Slay when they originally claimed him, the Bills had to cut ties with cornerback Ja’Marcus Ingram. That move didn’t go unnoticed - the Houston Texans quickly scooped up Ingram after placing former Bills defensive tackle Tim Settle Jr. on injured reserve.
Slay’s reluctance to report wasn’t exactly a mystery. From the jump, it was clear he had his sights set on a return to Philadelphia - the team where he played in two Super Bowls and captured a ring with the 2024 squad. The Eagles had also submitted a claim for Slay, but the Bills had priority in the waiver order and beat them to it.
For Slay, it was Philly or nothing. Once he found out he was headed to Western New York, he reportedly expressed uncertainty about continuing to play at all.
That decision comes with a cost - specifically, $350,000 in salary he’s now forfeiting over the final five weeks of the regular season. If Slay wants to return to the field in 2025, it’ll have to be with Buffalo.
Under the rules, he can’t sign elsewhere until free agency opens in 2026.
There’s another wrinkle to watch here. Because Slay signed a one-year, $10 million deal with Pittsburgh - which included an $8.745 million signing bonus - the Bills may explore options to recover a portion of that money.
The Steelers took on $8.5 million of that salary in bonus form before releasing him, and now Buffalo holds his rights without getting a single snap in return. Whether or not they pursue that money remains to be seen, but it’s a subplot worth keeping an eye on.
Meanwhile, the Bills didn’t stand still. On Friday, December 5, they claimed veteran safety Darnell Savage after his release from the Washington Commanders. It’s a move that adds depth and experience to a secondary that’s seen its fair share of turnover this season.
So while the Slay saga ends in a standoff, Buffalo keeps moving forward - reshuffling the deck and staying aggressive as the playoff push heats up.