It’s been known for a while that Detroit Lions cornerback Darius Slay is on the trade market, and he made it clear on Wednesday night that he’d like to play somewhere else.
After ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweeted that the Lions had signed former Atlanta Falcons cornerback Desmond Trufant, Slay tweeted, “Congrats to my guy!!!! Hope that speeds up my trade process!!”
Congrats to my guy!!!! Hope that speeds up my trade process!! https://t.co/ZQHO3NCGuE
— Darius Slay (@bigplay24slay) March 19, 2020
Welp.
Slay, 29, has been selected to the Pro Bowl in three straight seasons, and has 19 interceptions over the last six seasons (including an NFL-best eight interceptions in an All-Pro 2017 season). He’s in the final year of his current contract (with a base salary of $10 million in 2020), and expects to land big-time money on his next deal.
Y’all number to low lol
— Darius Slay (@bigplay24slay) February 10, 2020
In February, Schefter tweeted that the Lions had spoken to multiple teams about trading for Slay, and that other teams believed he’d be dealt, but the Lions were “adamant on (his) value.”
Lions have spoken with multiple teams about a potential trade for Pro Bowl CB Darius Slay, per sources. Any team that trades for Slay would have to compensate Detroit and Slay with a new deal. Other teams believe Slay will be traded this off-season, but Lions adamant on value.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 17, 2020
Well, the Lions’ leverage in trade negotiations likely took a hit by Slay making it clear he wants out.
UPDATE: Just hours after Slay’s tweet, the Lions traded him to the Philadelphia Eagles for third and fifth-round draft picks. And then he signed a three-year, $50 million contract extension with the Eagles, which makes him the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL (as he hoped).
Eagles are trading a third- and fifth-round pick in 2020 draft to Detroit for Darius Slay, per source. https://t.co/o2LPCtHK0M
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 19, 2020
The deal after the deal: the Eagles and new CB Darius Slay reached agreement on a 3-year, $50 million extension that includes $30 million guaranteed, @RosenhausSports tells ESPN.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 19, 2020
Darius Slay’s new deal now makes him the NFL’s highest-paid CB. Byron Jones’ reign there lasted less than a week. https://t.co/pL1vL8eIhZ
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 19, 2020
UPDATE II: Slay reportedly said on the radio on Thursday that he doesn’t respect Lions head coach Matt Patricia.
Slay on WJR said he didn't respect Matt Patricia as a person even before the Diggs trade.
I knew the relationship wasn't great, but Slay isn't holding back.
— Justin Rogers (@Justin_Rogers) March 19, 2020
