Darius Slay, Lions Agree on New Contract: Latest Details, Comments, Reaction

Cornerback Darius Slay will be with the Detroit Lions for the foreseeable future after the two sides agreed to a long-term contract extension. 

Per ESPN's Adam Schefter and Pro Football Talk, Slay's deal is for four years and worth up to $50.2 million. It includes $23 million in guarantees. 

Slay's contract has been a topic of conversation for the Lions basically since last season ended. He switched agents in January with the goal of getting a long-term deal done with the team that drafted him in the second round in 2013, per ESPN.com's Michael Rothstein.

In his quest to get an extension, Slay told Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press in June that he wanted to be paid like one of the NFL's top cornerbacks:

"

I’m a top guy, that’s it. I ain’t no real cocky guy like that, but I’m just confident in my game and what I put on film. I’ve been very, very productive for the past two years. Every year I has got better, so I feel like this year is going to be the best year and I’m going to make that.

Right now I’ll say (I deserve to be paid among the) top seven, just cause as long as (Darrelle) Revis is in the game, he’s going to be the best corner to me.

"

Based on Slay's recent performance, he deserves this big-money extension. He started all 16 games in Detroit each of the last two seasons, racking up four interceptions and 31 passes defensed during that span. 

Sam Monson of Pro Football Focus ranked Slay as the NFL's 44th-best player in 2015 regardless of position, highlighting a positive grade against the run and a low penalty total last season as two big factors working for the 25-year-old improving moving forward. 

The Lions did struggle on defense last year, allowing 25 points per game, but they have two foundation pieces in Slay and Ziggy Ansah to build around. 

Slay is locked up for the future, with Ansah under contract through 2017. The Lions are heading in the right direction, with Slay's contract being a huge step forward with the season just over one month away from starting.