Should The New York Giants Explore A Trade For Darius Slay?

The NFL offseason is in full swing with trade and free agent rumors beginning to heat up. Players and teams are preparing to part ways via trades and free agency, and a couple of big names are on the trade block already. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Detroit Lions have been shopping star cornerback Darius Slay.

Darius Slay has been one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL for the past few years. The Giants have had a weak secondary recently and have been making an effort to upgrade (such as drafting three defensive backs in the 2020 NFL Draft). Should the New York Giants get involved in trade talks for Darius Slay?

Darius Slay Trade Rumors

The Detroit Lions have to pay Darius Slay $13,368,750 in 2020 according to Spotrac. Slay is 29 years old and has one year left on his contract. Detroit seems ready to move on from Slay but wants to get something in return before he walks away fr nothing as a free agent in 2021.

The Giants could get in no the Darius Slay trade rumors, however, there will be a lot of competition. The Lions have already discussed a trade with “multiple teams” according to Adam Schefter. Whatever team trades for Darius Slay will have to be ready to pay him. He only has one year left on his current deal and desires a contract extension. The Giants have the money to pay him, but do they have the assets to trade for him?

Darius Slay Stats And Highlights

Darius “Big Play” Slay has made the Pro Bowl in each of the last three seasons. He was selected to be a First-Team All-Pro in 2017. In that 2017 season, Slay had a phenomenal performance recording 8 interceptions and 26 passes defended. He has not been quite on that level over the past two seasons, but he has still been one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL.

In 2018, Slay recorded 3 interceptions and 17 passes defended. This season, Darius took a step back as he was dealing with injuries. He played in 14 games, totaling 2 interceptions and 13 passes defended.

Darius Slay was targeted in coverage 93 times in 2018 and 94 times in 2019. In 2018, he allowed a completion percentage of 46.8% for 520 yards and 6 touchdowns. In 2019, Slay allowed a completion percentage of 55.9% for 694 yards and 3 touchdowns. This step backward could signal that age is getting to Darius. But either way, he is still a highly efficient cornerback and would be a major upgrade in the secondary for most teams in the league.