Who said the Detroit Lions can't still shake things up with a signing this season?
While the trade deadline is well past us, teams are still waiving players as we head towards the end of the season. This leaves them available to sign with any other squads with the cap space to do so, and with roles left to fill thanks to injuries. The Lions fit that bill on both fronts, and it's why a potential reunion with Darius Slay should be at the forefront of the front office's mind.
Slay, the former 2013 2nd round pick by the Lions, has been with the Pittsburgh Steelers this season since signing a deal with them this past free agency. It was only a 1-year, $10 million dollar contract, and he hadn't been contributing much to the Steelers defense this season prior to being cut by the team ahead of Week 14.
That doesn't mean that Slay can't still contribute. The cornerback would be the perfect addition to a Detroit secondary desperate to add starting talent after the loss of Terrion Arnold for the remainder of the season. This move would scream playoff push, which is why the Lions should deeply considering making it.
Reunion with Darius Slay should be priority for Lions ahead of Week 14
Slay has played in 10 games this year, posting three defended passes and 28 solo tackles. He was the bona fide CB1 for Detroit for quite some time, with his best season coming in 2017 when he had eight interceptions, 26 passes defended, and 60 total tackles. He most recently won a ring with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2024.
Per Adam Schefter's brief report on the release of Slay, he's interested in signing with other teams. The Lions should be making some sort of push to land back their former draft pick, especially with so many injuries bogging down their defense headed into the final stretch of the season.
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They have key games against the Dallas Cowboys, Los Angeles Rams, and Chicago Bears still left to be played, and adding in a starting corner next to D.J. Reed could make the world of a difference in terms of their ability to cover their bases with their pass defense. The Legion of Whom has quickly become the Legion of Boom or Bust, and that's not the type of inconsistency they can succeed with.
This feels like an easy choice for the Lions and Brad Holmes, but there's sure to be other fringe-playoff teams looking to add someone like Slay for depth.