Con: RIP 2020 Salary Cap
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One of the reasons Slay is on the trading block is because there is only one year left on his contract. Slay is still considered an elite cornerback, but at 29 years old, it would be difficult to justify a huge, long-term contract. In other words, Slay will likely play at a high-level for the next two-three years, but how well would play at the back-end of a four-five-year contract extension? This is an important question down the line because Slay will want a long-term deal and will also command top-dollar. This isn’t even including the Rams offering Ramsey and Johnson future contract extensions too.
Even before considering that though, Slay would be coming with a $13 million cap hit. While that may be on a one-year deal, the Rams don’t have a ton of cap space to work with. Of course, it will depend on what the Rams surrender in this trade, but the cost of Slay would pretty much end the Rams’ offseason. Would having a dangerous secondary be worth not addressing anything else during free agency? Probably not.
