Detroit Lions: 5 most underpaid players on the roster

Darius Slay

Slay is the definition of a shutdown corner. He led the league in pass breakups (26) and interceptions (8) last season. He never had more than two interceptions before that. With his stellar play, he also earned a Pro Bowl nod last year.

Slay is able to go toe to toe against the opponents No.1 receiver and smother them in coverage. He is a cornerstone player to this Lions defense and the type of leader you want for the young players in the secondary. Also, playing in a division with Aaron Rodgers and Kirk Cousins he is the player you would want to have to shut them down.

Slay signed a four year, $50.2 million extensions with the Lions back in 2016. All things considering, it was a team friendly deal. He the Lion’s sixth highest cap hit at $6,126,269 and per PFR he was the second most valuable player for the Lions last year. It is mind-blowing to think that the caliber of player Slay is he is only the 29th highest paid cornerback in the league.

Players like Prince Amukamara and Darqueze Dennard are making more than Slay. He could’ve easily gotten top dollar if he decided to test the free agency water. Case in point, fellow NFC North cornerback Xavier Rhodes cap hit is $13,400,000 this year.

Slay is a premier talent at cornerback. With the new scheme on defense, he will be relied upon to be the player everyone is accustomed to seeing. With quarterbacks avoiding anywhere he is, it will be hard for Slay to replicate the numbers from last season.

He is essentially shutting down nearly half the field with his coverage abilities. Slay is a rising star in the NFL and is vastly underpaid.