What Darius Slay Means To The Lions Defense
Start writing a post
Sports

What Darius Slay Means To The Lions Defense

The three year veteran signed a four-year, $50.2 million extension last week

12
What Darius Slay Means To The Lions Defense
Sporting News

Last week the Lions and cornerback Darius Slay agreed to terms on a four-year contract extension worth $50.2 million. That contract makes him the seventh highest paid cornerback in the NFL.

Slay, a three-year veteran, had one year left on his rookie contract. This deal will keep him in a Lions uniform until 2020.

Slay said earlier this offseason that he considers himself a top seven cornerback in the league and now he’ll be paid like one.

And if you look at Slay’s advanced stats, the Lions might be getting a steal. Pro Football Focus ranked Slay as their second best cornerback for last year, one spot behind Arizona’s Tyrann Mathieu. However Mathieu plays primarily against slot receivers while Slay plays outside the numbers.

The Lions have been looking for a shutdown corner pretty much since the franchise was founded and it looks like they finally have their guy in Slay. The former second rounder has held down the starting role the past two years and should do so for a long time.

Slay tends to stick on a team’s number one receiver, unlike the Seahawks Richard Sherman who gets a lot of press for locking down one side of the field and staying on that side of the field.

Slay is the anchor of Lions defensive backs, with the other cornerback spot being left open after the retirement of Slay’s mentor, Rashean Mathis and the strong safety spot also being up for grabs this preseason. Slay is going to have to hold down his side of the field.

Fighting for that strong safety position is Tavon Wilson and rookie Miles Killebrew. Wilson was primarily a special teams player in his time with New England and Killebrew is sure to face a large learning curve when making the jump from the Big Sky conference at Southern Utah to the NFL.

At the other cornerback position you have Nevin Lawson, who was drafted the same year as Slay, who is going to try and hold off Alex Carter for the other cornerback slot.

So that leaves Slay and Glover Quin as the only members of the defensive back crew who have played extensively in the NFL. Quin is going to have to step in the leadership role that Mathis left but Slay is going to have to carry the bulk of the workload for the defensive backs.

If he can be the shutdown corner he was last year and allow the Quin and whoever ends up being the strong safety to help out the other cornerback, defensive backfield will be in great shape.

But if he regresses to his form in 2014, when he was in the 20-25 range in terms of cornerbacks, the Lions defense is going to struggle. 2014 was the first year that Slay was the starting cornerback for the whole season.

The defense is going to usher in five new starters this season and Slay should provide some stability at the back end of that defense as the defense settles in. Slay might in fact be the most important defender the Lions have this year.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

52338
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

33625
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

956404
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

181266
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments