Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Darius Slay a possible trade target

The Detroit Lions have started to signal to the rest of the NFL that they are looking to trade Darius Slay. Tampa Bay could be a potential landing spot.

The defense for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers took several massive strides forward in 2020. The run game was one of the best in the league from week one and the secondary also improved at the end of the season.

The Bucs have a good group of younger up and comers in their secondary but lack the veteran presence that lends itself to leadership. Carlton Davis is moving to that spot as a veteran but is still very young as this is still only going to be his third year in the NFL.

With Darius Slay on the trading block for the Lions, the Buccaneers may look at bringing Slay in as a means of being a leader to the younger corners like Jamel Dean and Sean Murphy-Bunting. Slay is a beast against the pass and would be able to help elevate the Buccaneer secondary even further.

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Slay has experienced a very successful individual NFL career ever since he was drafted in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft by the Lions.

A starter since day one, Slay has 19 interceptions throughout his seven-year career to go along with 104 passes defended.

Slay has talent and athleticism that matches up perfectly with his vast knowledge of the game. Slay would improve the Buccaneer pass defense both as a shutdown corner and as a teacher of the younger players.

Darius Slay would be expensive, but if the Bucs were to save some cap space by not re-signing players like Ndamukong Suh and Demar Dotson they could have enough money to pay Slay’s hefty salary in 2020.

The Buccaneers could be in a good position to take on Slay as Detroit may not be expecting much in the form of compensation due to the fact that the relationship between the Lions and their star cornerback is quickly deteriorating.

Detroit would likely have to sweeten the pot a little bit to find a team willing to trade for Slay and the Bucs could bring him in for less than an arm and a leg.

Even though their secondary is already trending in the right direction, the Buccaneers could always use a player like Darius Slay in their secondary. Slay is statistically one of the best corners in the NFL and is only 29 years old, making him a potential trade target for the Bucs this offseason.