The Detroit Lions selected Mississippi State cornerback Darius Slay with the No. 36 overall pick in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft. Slay is rated as the No. 71 overall prospect and No. 9 cornerback in this year's draft class by SB Nation's Dan Kadar.
2013 NFL Draft results: Darius Slay selected by Lions with No. 36 pick
The Lions added a lot of speed to their secondary, as Slay was the fastest defensive back at this year’s NFL Combine.
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For Whom the Cowbell Tolls on Darius Slay
You can probably credit an interception or two of Slay's to Johnthan Banks, as offenses tended to not want to throw his way most of the season, leaving Slay with additional opportunities to shine. Slay had a solid senior season for the Bulldogs, earning second team All-SEC honors from coaches. NFL scouts may be turned off by Slay’s slight frame at 6’0 and 192 pounds. He also may not possess the elite change-of-direction ability that this year’s top corners have. That said, Slay’s overall athleticism should give him a shot to be a long-term starter in the NFL.
The Lions secondary struggled in 2012, but looks to be much improved in 2013. They solved their safety issues with Glover Quin and Louis Delmas in the offseason, but Slay will add needed depth at the corner position. In a division with the Green Bay Packers, you can never have too many corners.
Slay didn’t see the field until his junior season. Over two years, Slay had 40 tackles, six interceptions and 10 pass breakups. He was used mostly as cover corner in the strictest sense, with just two tackles for loss in his career. Of those six total interceptions, two were returned for touchdowns.
Combine results
Height: 6’0
Weight: 192 pounds
Hand size: 9 3/8 inches
Arm length: 32 1/4 inches
40-yard dash: 4.36 seconds
Vertical jump: 35.5 inches
Broad jump: 124 inches
20-yard shuttle: 4.21 seconds
Bench press: 14 reps of 225 pounds
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