APRIL 18: As could be expected, no Giants-Slayton extension talks have taken place. Although understanding the wide receiver’s pursuit, GM Joe Schoen confirmed (via Raanan) nothing is brewing on this front as the draft nears.
APRIL 17: Darius Slayton went from needing to take a pay cut on his rookie contract to leading a playoff team in receiving. The former fifth-round pick repeated that feat last year. Slayton is no stranger to being Daniel Jones‘ top target; he has led the Giants in receiving in four of his five NFL seasons.
Attached to a two-year, $12MM deal that calls for a $2.5MM 2024 base salary, Slayton is staying away from the first phase of Giants offseason workouts. The sixth-year wideout is seeking a new contract, ESPN.com’s Jordan Raanan reports.
This comes shortly after it became known Courtland Sutton, who effectively leapfrogged Jerry Jeudy to become the Broncos’ No. 1 target once again last season, was staying away in hopes of a better deal. Neither receiver can be fined for being absent from offseason workouts until the teams’ respective June minicamps. Unlike Sutton, Slayton is signed for only one more season; he is due for free agency once again in 2025.
Slayton, 27, responded to the Giants’ late-summer pay cut by leading the 2022 team in receiving by more than 150 yards. With the Giants missing badly on wide receiver investments Kenny Golladay (free agency) and Kadarius Toney (Round 1) in 2021, Slayton became vital for Brian Daboll‘s first roster. The Giants lost Sterling Shepard and Wan’Dale Robinson to season-ending injuries that year, increasing their reliance on Slayton, who went from being buried on the depth chart to accumulating 724 yards to boost the ’22 team to the divisional round.
The Giants circled back to Slayton in free agency, giving him that $12MM deal to go with a Shepard re-signing and a Parris Campbell addition. The latter two wideouts made little impact last season, and Slayton continued to be Big Blue’s top receiver. Even with Darren Waller acquired, Slayton led last year’s team (770 yards) by nearly 200. In his prime earning period, Slayton will make an early attempt to do better ahead of Year 6.
Like Sutton, Slayton has been consistently in the 700-yard range. Slayton has four 700-plus-yard seasons but no 1,000-yard years. Similarly to Sutton, Slayton has not enjoyed great circumstances. Jones’ $40MM-per-year contract notwithstanding, he has not given the Giants a strong option at quarterback. Issues along the offensive line have hurt the team, but Jones has just one QBR season in the top 16 and has cleared 15 TD passes in one of his five campaigns. Slayton leading the team with his run of 700-yard years is emblematic of the Giants’ aerial struggles. The Giants have not boasted a 1,000-yard receiver since Odell Beckham Jr. in 2018.
The Giants, of course, do not have to adjust Slayton’s contract. And the 6-foot-1 target’s place in the Giants’ receiver hierarchy may soon change, should the team address its receiver need by using the No. 6 overall pick on one of this draft’s top options. An offense featuring Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers or Rome Odunze would shift Slayton to the WR2 role. Unless this Giants regime has come around on Slayton — after reducing his pay from 2.54MM to $985K two years ago — the Dave Gettleman-era draftee may need to prove it again ahead of free agency in 2025. Harrison, Nabers and Odunze each visited the Giants in March.
If the Giants draft one of the top three receivers, Slayton would undoubtedly see his role change. The team used a third-round pick on outside option Jalin Hyatt, and Robinson remains under contract for slot work. Unlike Jones, Slayton would stand to benefit from the Giants using the No. 6 pick to trade up for a quarterback while tabling their receiver need to Day 2.
The Giants never seem like they’re all that jazzed about Slayton, and he’d only be a number three receiver on a more talented team, but in a world where guys like Darnell Mooney and Curtis Samuel are getting $26 million and $15 million just in guarantees, Slayton is notably underpaid.
I’m a slayton fan. He’s not a #1 WR but he’s a good second option. He has rarely been used right either. He took off when Taylor stepped in last year bc they actually used him as a deep threat/Taylor wasn’t afraid to air it out.. Not his fault he’s had an unstable QB situation and minimal WR talent around him. He has some drop issues but he has definite value. He’s been very consistent, he doesn’t miss many games and can take the top off the D. I’d like to see him around for the long haul but I don’t think the Giants give him a new deal.
Totally Agree. I feel like his hands have definitely improved. I think with a more stable QB, we’d be having a different discussion about Slayton. Not saying top 10 but he would definitely be getting the respect he deserves.
Is he worth it tho?
Let this guy go then. You can get a replacement level guy who can produce the same way in rounds 1-3. He isn’t a number one and if he is your number two you probably wish you had a better one.
Nice catch rate the last two seasons but also has never started a full season either.
Maybe he is hoping they do cut him so a better team can pick him up. Cannot imagine he has been thrilled with the QB play in NY.
Jettas and Lamb holding out for a new deal sure… Slayton holding out is kinda funny. With the likelihood of Nabers or Rome at 6 plus Wandale, he’s arguably the #3 WR for them.