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Lions' Slay wants to be paid like a top-7 cornerback

Mike DiNovo / USA TODAY Sports

Detroit Lions cornerback Darius Slay is hoping to ink a long-term contract extension this offseason and he believes he should be paid as much as the best corners in the game.

"I'm a top guy, that's it," Slay said on Tuesday, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. "I ain't no real cocky guy like that, but I'm just confident in my game and what I put on film. I've been very, very productive for the past two years. Every year I has got better, so I feel like this year is going to be the best year and I'm going to make that."

When asked to expand upon what he meant by "top guy," Slay was oddly specific in his assessment of where he stands among the league's corners.

"Right now I'll say top seven, just cause as long as (Darrelle) Revis is in the game, he's going to be the best corner to me," Slay said. "(Richard) Sherman's the best, 24 picks in three years, nobody ain't do that. Pat P (Peterson), of course. I love Chris Harris' game. (Aqib) Talib. Joe Haden. I feel like them are the real elite, elite, elite guys, so I feel like I'm an elite guy, but I feel like I got to keep working to get to their level because they're elite."

If Slay gets his way he would sign a deal that would pay him in excess of $11 million in average annual salary, a number only seven cornerbacks in the league currently reach, according to Spotrac.

The team and Slay's agent have engaged in preliminary discussions and the 2013 second-round pick would like to have a deal in place by some point this summer.

"I don't really know why it's that important, but I feel like it should be done then," Slay said. "But who knows? I'm just out here playing ball, just trying to handle business."

Slay refused to go into specifics about the nature of the contract talks but was emphatic about wanting to stay in Detroit, a city he says he loves.

During his first three seasons, Slay has tallied four interceptions and has emerged as the Lions' undisputed No. 1 corner over the past year. In 2015, Slay ranked as Pro Football Focus' fourth-ranked cornerback.

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