Slay It Ain't So: Ravens Among Darius Slay's 'Best Destinations'
Could Darius Slay fly from one bird-branded team to another?
A list from ClutchPoints proposes such a theory, listing the Baltimore Ravens as one of the "best destinations" for the soon-to-be-former Philadelphia Eagle. Slay is set to be labeled a post-June 1 release after three seasons with the Eagles, the last of which produced a trip to the Super Bowl.
Baltimore's secondary is set to undergo a spring of change, one that has already bid farewell to safety Chuck Clark via a trade to the New York Jets. Cornerbacks Marcus Peters, Trayvon Mullen, and Kyle Fuller are also destined to hit the free agency market, potentially leading to upheaval toward an aerial defense that already struggled mightily last season to the tune of ranking 26th in the league.
Also included on the list of three is Baltimore's AFC North rival, the Cincinnati Bengals (as well as the Jacksonville Jaguars). Ironically, the Bengals' offense is listed as a reason why Slay and the Ravens would be a perfect match.
"With the Bengals’ offense led by Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase in the same division, Baltimore could use more help in the secondary," ClutchPoints writes. "Slay’s pass protection would be a game-changer in those games. This past season, he had 14 pass breakups, the second-best mark in Philadelphia’s defense.
"Although most of Baltimore’s attention this offseason is going to Lamar Jackson’s contract situation, there is still a lot of areas to address. With Slay potentially joining the team, the Ravens could focus on other areas in the draft and it might help convince Jackson to stay with the organization."
Slay, 32, recently wrapped his 10th NFL season and has earned five All-Pro nominations between Philadelphia and Detroit. Starting all 17 games with the NFC champion Eagles, Slay earned 55 tackles and three interceptions, notably taking away two passes en route to NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors in Week 2's triumph over Minnesota.
Baltimore would likely endeavor to resolve the aforementioned Jackson situation before they worry about the other parts of their roster. But the adjusting defensive situation will likewise need addressing, especially with Clark already gone. Slay could be a strong solution for a unit in desperate need of assistance, especially in a division paced by high-octane offenses of both the established (Cincinnati) and developing (Cleveland/Pittsburgh) variety.
Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags
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