Tuesday open thread: What compensation is worth trading Darius Slay for?

Midday Monday provided for some more rumor rumblings about the future of Darius Slay’s tenure with the Detroit Lions.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Lions have spoken to “multiple teams” about trading the former All-Pro cornerback. This news comes two weeks after Schefter’s ESPN colleague, Jeremy Fowler, reported that while Slay and the Lions front office have been in negotiations to keep the cornerback in Detroit, there were “expectations that [Slay] could re-enter the trade market.”

As the Lions make their way towards free agency and the NFL Draft, the team is going to put together a plan for themselves at the cornerback position, and it seems more and more likely that plan isn’t going to include Slay.

Which leads us to today’s Question of the Day:

What compensation is worth trading Darius Slay for?

As always, context is important. Slay is entering the final year of his deal, and after holding out for part of the 2019 offseason, it’s pretty likely Slay will do the same this offseason as he awaits a new deal—one that he deems worthy, as he’s made abundantly clear on Twitter.

Back in October, the Los Angeles Rams traded two first-round picks in 2020 and 2021, along with a fourth-round selection in 2021 for then Jacksonville Jaguars star cornerback Jalen Ramsey. Quite the haul for a player in a similar situation to that of Slay, but the Rams viewed themselves as being Super Bowl contenders looking for a final foundational piece, so the cost satisfied the return.

That was then and this is February. There isn’t a team who thinks they’re a Darius Slay away from being championship contenders, so the asking price isn’t going to be similar. Also, Slay is 29, going on 30 for any team who signs him to an extension; Ramsey is 25.

According to Ryan O’Halloran, Denver Broncos beat writer for the Denver Post, one league executive shared it would cost either a “second or third rounder” for the Broncos to acquire Slay.

For me, a second-round pick would be fine compensation for Slay. Is Slay still an elite corner? Maybe, maybe not. Is he going to be one of the better cornerbacks in the league next season? Most certainly, and that should be enough for Detroit to continue to be adamant about the value they’re getting in return in any deal for Slay.

Your turn.