DARIUS SLAY
Position: Cornerback
Ht/Wt: 6-0, 190
College: Mississippi State
Experience: Sixth season
View photos of cornerback Darius Slay from Day 10 of 2018 Detroit Lions Training Camp presented by Rocket Mortgage
Detroit Lions cornerback Darius Slay (23) during training camp practice on Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2018 in Napa, Calif. (Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions cornerback Darius Slay (23) during training camp practice on Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2018 in Napa, Calif. (Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions cornerback Darius Slay (23) during training camp practice on Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2018 in Napa, Calif. (Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions cornerback Darius Slay (23) during training camp practice on Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2018 in Napa, Calif. (Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions cornerback Darius Slay (23) during training camp practice on Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2018 in Napa, Calif. (Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions cornerback Darius Slay (23) during training camp practice on Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2018 in Napa, Calif. (Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions cornerback Darius Slay (23) during training camp practice on Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2018 in Napa, Calif. (Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions cornerback Darius Slay (23) during training camp practice on Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2018 in Napa, Calif. (Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions cornerback Darius Slay (23) during training camp practice on Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2018 in Napa, Calif. (Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions cornerback Darius Slay (23) during training camp practice on Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2018 in Napa, Calif. (Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions cornerback Darius Slay (23) during training camp practice on Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2018 in Napa, Calif. (Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions cornerback Darius Slay (23) during training camp practice on Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2018 in Napa, Calif. (Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions cornerback Darius Slay (23) meets the media following training camp practice on Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2018 in Napa, Calif. (Detroit Lions via AP)
Outlook: Slay has come into his own as one of the best cornerbacks in the league after a 2017 season that saw him make his first All-Pro and Pro Bowl teams. Slay led the NFL in interceptions (8) and passes defended last season (26).
The amazing part about those statistics is that Slay oftentimes shadowed the opponent's best receiver, which last year included Odell Beckham Jr, Julio Jones, Antonio Brown, Mike Evans and others.
Opposing quarterbacks completed just 56.6 percent of their passes on Slay for a quarterback rating of 55.6 a year ago. That was sixth best among all cornerbacks.
Slay has established himself as one of the best in the league, and is just entering his prime, which is huge for the Lions' defense.
Practice report: Slay got a lot of good work in Tuesday in both individual and team drills against Oakland receiver Amari Cooper, who caught 48 passes for 680 yards and seven scores last year. Cooper was a 1,000-yard receiver in 2015 and 2016.
Cooper caught a short slant in front of Slay in their first one-on-one rep. Slay had terrific coverage on a comeback route on their second rep, but Cooper was able to make a contested catch. Slay clapped his hands together in disgust after the rep, probably thinking he should have been able to knock the ball away.
Slay was one of four Lions defenders to get an interception on the day in team drills. Slay read a Derek Carr pass perfectly, and stepped right in front of it for an interception about midway through practice.
Overall, Slay had a solid practice, and made a big impression on the Raiders' offensive players.
Quotable: "He's a great corner, especially man-to man," Raiders quarterback Derek Carr said of Slay after Tuesday's joint practice . "He's sticky, so ball placement is key.
"One on ones vs. him are very important for me. As you could see, Coop (Amari Cooper) catching a ball and his finger's almost on the ball too. That's just how it is. You have to have strong hands to go against him."
