Darius Slay
In an ideal world, the 49ers wouldn’t have a salary cap and could bring in an All-Pro cornerback this offseason. As a matter of fact, there is a very slim chance that they could add an All-Pro corner to their defense by way of a trade.
Following the Super Bowl in February, it was reported that the Detroit Lions were speaking to teams about a possible trade for Darius Slay. Yes, the 49ers have just $17.8 million and wouldn’t be able to sign Slay long-term once he’s acquired.
However, anything is possible (cue the Kevin Garnett gif) and San Francisco can create enough room for Slay in a myriad of ways. Of course, it wouldn’t be easy to make it plausible for Slay to become a member of the 49ers.
Since 2014, Slay has been one of the most consistent corners in the NFL with 99 deflections and 19 interceptions in that six-year span. Acquiring Slay would definitely give San Francisco arguably the best cornerback duos in the NFL with Sherman.
In addition, a trade for Slay is one of those moves that you make and figure out the details later. Maybe the 49ers can convince Slay to play in San Francisco with the intention of signing him long-term in 2021. Or at the least, he could be a one-year rental for a team that believes they can compete for a Super Bowl again in 2020.