By Sunday 
The Darius Slay trade still stings—was it really the worst of the last 10 years?
The One That Got Away
Detroit Lions fans have had their fair share of heartbreak over the years, but when Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox named the 2020 Darius Slay trade to the Philadelphia Eagles as the team’s worst deal of the past decade, it hit a familiar nerve. For many, this one wasn’t just about losing a star player—it was about timing, culture, and what could’ve been.
How It All Went Down
It was March 19, 2020. GM Bob Quinn, knee-deep in roster reshuffling, sent Slay—then 29 and publicly at odds with coach Matt Patricia—to the Eagles. In return, Detroit got:
- Pick 85 (used in a package that landed guard Jonah Jackson)
- Pick 166 (used on wide receiver Quintez Cephus)
On paper, that’s not nothing. Jackson turned into a Pro Bowl-caliber guard and started 61 games before injuries slowed him down. Cephus, unfortunately, fizzled out. Still, the optics? Rough.
Slay’s Success Makes It Hurt
Since the trade, Slay has:
- Made three Pro Bowls
- Helped lead Philly to two Super Bowls
- Nabbed a ring
Meanwhile, the Lions were stuck in rebuilding limbo, watching their former star shine for a conference rival. As Knox put it, “Detroit handed an All-Pro to a conference rival,” and got little splash in return.
What Really Went Wrong?
A few key things doomed this trade from the start:
- Bad Timing: Slay was in his final contract year. If Detroit had moved earlier, they might’ve landed more.
- Culture Clash: Patricia’s poor relationship with veterans like Slay made the trade feel inevitable, and limited the team’s leverage.
- Double Spending: Detroit signed Desmond Trufant for the same $10 million they saved by dealing Slay—only Trufant was injured and ineffective.
In short, it wasn’t just who they traded, but how and when they did it.
Perspective, Please
This wasn’t the Herschel Walker trade, but it was a cautionary tale. In fairness, Jonah Jackson was a legitimate hit, and Detroit didn’t walk away totally empty-handed. But when you compare what Slay did in Philly to what Detroit got in return, it’s easy to understand the frustration.
The Bigger Picture
Lions GM Brad Holmes has since changed the vibe in Detroit. He nailed the Matthew Stafford-for-Goff trade, stacked the roster through smart drafting, and now has the Lions sitting in a legit Super Bowl window.
Still, the Slay trade is a reminder: one bad move can echo for years.
Bottom Line
Was the Slay trade the worst of the decade? Maybe. Maybe not. But it sure felt like a slap at the time—and fans haven’t forgotten. It’s a classic case of “could’ve been better,” and a reminder that in the NFL, timing is everything.
And if the Lions finally hoist that Lombardi? This will just be a footnote in a longer, happier story.