The Buffalo Bills thought they were adding a proven veteran to their secondary when they claimed cornerback Darius Slay off waivers from the Steelers. But as of Sunday, Slay still hasn’t reported to the team - and that’s left the Bills in a bit of a bind.
Here’s where things stand: Slay was placed on the reserve/did not report list, which is a temporary roster designation that gives the team some flexibility while they figure out their next move. But make no mistake - this isn’t a long-term solution. The Bills are now staring down a series of decisions that could have both on-field and financial implications.
The first and most pressing question? Whether Slay intends to play at all - for the Bills or anyone else.
So far, there’s been no public word from Slay or his camp about his intentions. That leaves Buffalo in limbo.
If Slay continues to stay away, the Bills essentially have two options: keep him on the reserve list and wait it out, or cut ties and release him. But releasing him opens another can of worms.
If they go that route, Slay would hit waivers again. If no team claims him the second time around, he’d become a free agent - free to sign with any team he chooses.
And here’s where things get even more interesting.
There’s a financial angle to all this. Slay’s deal includes an $8.745 million signing bonus.
If the Bills release him, they lose the ability to recoup any portion of that money - money they haven’t paid yet, but could theoretically try to recover if he breaches his contract. That’s not just a footnote; it’s a significant chunk of change that could affect how the front office approaches this situation.
Then there’s the Philadelphia factor. Around the league, there’s a belief that Slay may be eyeing a return to the Eagles - and that he never really wanted to leave in the first place.
The Eagles reportedly put in a waiver claim for him, but the Bills had higher priority and landed his contract. If Buffalo keeps him on the reserve/did not report list, he can’t go anywhere - including back to Philly.
Now, there’s been some quiet chatter about potential tampering - the idea that there may have been communication between Slay’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, and the Eagles about orchestrating a return. Nothing is confirmed, and tampering talk is often just that - talk.
But if the Bills believe something improper happened, they could push the league to investigate. That would put the spotlight on both the Eagles and Rosenhaus, and possibly complicate things even further.
What’s clear is that Buffalo didn’t make this move lightly. They waived cornerback Ja’Marcus Ingram to make room for Slay, a move that shows they were serious about adding him to the mix. Now, instead of bolstering their secondary, they’re stuck navigating a murky situation with no easy answers.
As it stands, the Bills hold all the leverage - but they’re also holding a roster spot and a contract for a player who hasn’t shown up. And until Slay makes a move, Buffalo’s front office will be left weighing its options, trying to balance cap implications, competitive concerns, and the possibility of a behind-the-scenes tug-of-war with another NFC contender.