There was no shortage of frustration in Philadelphia when news broke that the Eagles had a chance to bring back veteran cornerback Darius Slay-only to watch the Buffalo Bills swoop in and block the move.
Late in the season, the Pittsburgh Steelers released Slay, opening the door for a potential reunion with the Eagles. Slay had reportedly made it clear he wanted to return to Philly, and it looked like the stars might align. But the Bills claimed him off waivers, held onto him for the rest of the season, and never put him on the field.
Fast forward to a tense press conference following the surprise firing of head coach Sean McDermott, and the topic of Slay came up. Bills general manager Brandon Beane was asked about the decision to claim Slay-particularly in light of the cornerback’s stated desire to play for just one team: the Eagles.
Beane’s explanation didn’t exactly smooth things over in Philly.
“When we claimed Darius Slay, we had no idea that he had the intent to only play for one team,” Beane said. “The way the rules work, I would’ve loved when I found that out, to push him back and say, ‘Alright, we were not aware of that, give us Ja’Marcus back,’ so that we don’t lose both, but that’s not how the rules work.”
That explanation didn’t sit well with Eagles fans-and it’s not hard to see why. Beane’s comments focused more on the mechanics of the waiver process than on why the Bills held onto a player they had no plans to use. Slay stayed on Buffalo’s roster through the end of the season without logging a single snap.
For fans in Philadelphia, the timing of it all raised eyebrows. The Eagles were set to face the Bills in Week 17, and letting Slay join an NFC contender-one that had a clear need at cornerback-could have tilted the competitive balance.
Buffalo keeping him out of Philly’s hands? That felt strategic.
But karma had its say. Despite the perceived gamesmanship, the Eagles edged out the Bills in a gritty 13-12 win. Slay didn’t play, but his presence-or lack thereof-still loomed large over the matchup.
Slay remains a fan favorite in Philadelphia, and for good reason. He spent five seasons with the Eagles, helped lead them to two Super Bowl appearances, and brought home a Lombardi Trophy.
He made three Pro Bowls in midnight green before being released last offseason, a move driven by the rise of rookies Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean. Slay landed in Pittsburgh, while the Eagles turned to Adoree' Jackson to fill the void.
Now, with the season in the rearview mirror, Eagles fans are left to wonder what could’ve been. Jackson had his ups and downs down the stretch, and Slay’s veteran presence might’ve made a difference in key moments. But thanks to the Bills’ waiver claim, that “what if” will remain just that.
One thing’s for sure: Philly doesn’t forget. And when it comes to Darius Slay, neither do the fans.