Lions Lock Up Darius Slay For Four More Years
By: Will Burchfield
@burchie_kid
When the Lions take the field on Friday in Allen Park, their top cornerback will join them.
Per Adam Schefter, the team has signed Darius Slay to a four-year, $50.2 million extension through 2020. Slay was set to become an unrestricted free agent at the conclusion of the 2016 season.
Slay is coming off his best year in the NFL. After emerging as the Lions' number-one corner in 2014, punctuated by his lock-down coverage of the Dez Bryant in the playoffs, Slay matched up with the opposition's top receiver throughout the 2015 season.
He tallied 59 combined tackles, 13 passes defended and two interceptions.
In the wake of his strong performance, Slay told reporters earlier this summer he wanted to be paid like a top-seven cornerback.
"I'm a top guy, that's it," he said.
His new contract would suggest the same thing.
With an annual salary of $12.5 million, Slay is now the seventh highest-paid cornerback in the league, tied with the Giants' Janoris Jenkins. Josh Norman, who ranks first, will earn $15 million this season for the Redskins.
Slay was selected in the second round of the 2013 draft out of Mississippi State. In three seasons with the Lions, he has played in 45 games, registering four interceptions and 37 passes defended.
