Dave Birkett

Detroit Free Press

Darius Slay should get a new contract sometime this off-season. His agent, Drew Rosenhaus, is expected to engage the Detroit Lions in talks beginning at next week’s NFL combine.

When he does, the third-year cornerback will be paid commensurate with his burgeoning rep as one of the top cornerbacks in the league.

Pro Football Focus listed Slay among its “top 25 breakout players for 2015” in an article last week, and earlier this month at the Super Bowl, NFL Network analyst Deion Sanders said he’s a fan of Slay’s game.

“Darius Slay is good, man,” Sanders said. “I like the kid. He reached out to me early on coming into the league, calls me from time to time. I like him.”

Slay had 59 tackles and two interceptions last season while often covering the opposing team’s best receiver.

He wasn't perfect. He gave up two touchdowns in a rare off day against the Denver Broncos. But he finished with PFF’s second-highest coverage grade among cornerbacks (plus-11.7) and established himself as an anchor of the Lions’ defense.

Sanders said his relationship with Slay started through Slay’s former agent, Eugene Parker, and he dispenses simple advice to the Mississippi State product from time to time.

“Study, prepare. Study, prepare,” Sanders said. “Whatever you put in the game, you’re going to get out of it.”

Though Sanders didn’t speak as passionately about Slay as he did about some other young cornerbacks like the Kansas City Chiefs' Marcus Peters, he said the 25-year-old Slay has a bright future.

“There’s a lot of guys that can really play this game,” Sanders said. “He can be really good.”

Note: The Lions made it official today: They hired Brian Callahan as quarterbacks coach.

Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.

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