If by slow you mean a 4.5 guy vs a 4.4 guy the answer is
YES. The 4.6 guys may have to play Safety in this league.
Ball skills and hands. BB raves about these qualities in a CB.
Just look at Ty. He doesn't just tip passes...HE CATCHES THEM. A real playmaker and game changer.
Samuel holds his school record for passes defensed. Always around the ball. Up until this season, he's led the team in passes defensed (tips and ints) -- but some of those tips should've/could've been caught. This season -- he's catching them. Fact remains, throughout his college and pro career, he's proven to have those excellent "ball skills".
Wilson -- led the nation in passes defensed as a CB. Once again -- exc. ball skills.
So to answer your question, YES, we'd pass on a faster CB if he didn't have those skills that BB covets.
All the DBs are responsible to their assigned areas as part of a team D. Find a CB who's into film study, fast enough to play the position, not a liablility vs the run -- but smart enough to grasp our D.
BTW, great questions.