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Detroit Lions: Please don’t take Darius Slay for granted

By Payne Schanski

DETROIT.MI - NOVEMBER 24: Darius Slay #23 of the Detroit Lions runs the ball back after intercepting a pass in front of Adam Thielen (19) of the Minnesota Vikings with 30 seconds left in the fourth quarter at Ford Field on November 24, 2016 in Detroit, Michigan. The Lions kicked a field goal as time ran out to defeat the Minnesota Vikings 16-13. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
DETROIT.MI - NOVEMBER 24: Darius Slay #23 of the Detroit Lions runs the ball back after intercepting a pass in front of Adam Thielen (19) of the Minnesota Vikings with 30 seconds left in the fourth quarter at Ford Field on November 24, 2016 in Detroit, Michigan. The Lions kicked a field goal as time ran out to defeat the Minnesota Vikings 16-13. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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Darius Slay #23 of the Detroit Lions . (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Darius Slay #23 of the Detroit Lions . (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

Strength into Weakness

As of right now, Jeffrey Okudah seems to be the most cited potential draft choice for the Lions when they pick third in April. At an NFL Combine interview, Okudah was asked about the possibility of pairing up with Slay in Detroit, which he suggested could be magical.

If Slay indeed stays in the Lions’ secondary, the team has the luxury of turning that unit into potentially one of the strongest in the league (Slay, Okudah, Tracy Walker if he continues to develop).

Alternatively, they could take a more balanced route with the defense and feel better about taking Chase Young for the defensive line or revamping the linebacker corps with Combine MVP Isaiah Simmons.

Then again, losing Slay ahead of draft day backs the Lions into a bit of a corner with that number three pick. Cornerback becomes yet another position with massive holes in personnel.

It becomes a Catch-22 where maybe over-drafting for Okudah feels like a necessity; at the very least, taking Young or Simmons would come with the expense of leaving the secondary in shambles.

To be clear, there are no cornerbacks in this year’s free agent class with Slay’s credentials. If Detroit wants to turn the defensive backfield into a strength in 2020, or even balance things out and feel comfortable building up the line, it would seem like ‘Big Play’ needs to be part of that equation.

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