Darius Slayton is in position to play a sixth season with the Giants in 2024, but this offseason has included questions about his future. The veteran receiver stayed away from New York during the spring as part of an effort to land a new deal. 
No extension talks took place, but in the end the sides reached a compromise. Slayton agreed to return to practice with new incentives being added to his pact, one which expires after this campaign. The 27-year-old has led the team in receiving during four of his five seasons, but recent draft additions – particularly Malik Nabers – threaten to cut into his role on the Giants’ offense moving forward.
Against the backdrop of a reduced target share, Slayton recently made it clear he would have welcomed a trade sending him elsewhere ahead of his walk year. No such move will be taking place, however, as general manager Joe Schoen confirmed. The pair had a discussion on the matter, and both sides are prepared for at least one more year together.
“When he came in, we had a conversation, and [a trade] was never an option,” Schoen said (via Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News). “He was a free agent two years ago, and 32 teams had a chance to get his services, and he came back here. And I believe we gave him the best deal at the time, and it was a two-year deal. And we had a good conversation, and he understood where we were, and I understood where he was coming from. And we put it to bed when he showed up in the spring.”
Nabers, along with 2022 second-rounder Wan’Dale Robinson and 2023 third-round selection Jalin Hyatt, represents competition for Slaton in terms of playing time and targets in the Giants’ offense. The latter has been a consistent option in the passing game for years, but his 50 receptions and 770 yards from 2023 represented career highs. As New York looks to take a needed step forward during a make-or-break campaign for quarterback Daniel Jones, Slayton will be joined by other intriguing pass-catchers.
The former fifth-rounder’s free agent stock will be dictated in large part by his performance in 2024. Slayton could seek a new team for the first time in his career if he does see himself surpassed on the depth chart by one or more of the Giants’ recent additions, but for now his future is not in doubt.
That seems kind of dismissive from Schoen regarding a player who has, quite honestly, bailed the team out on a few occasions (especially considering what they gave up to acquire Slayton and how they’ve shuffled him in and out of the lineup). Like it or not, they’re starting Daniel Jones, and Slayton has by far the most proven connection with him. He’s been the only receiver to maintain a connection for more than a season, even considering how much of that isn’t all his or Jones’ fault.
Even if Nabers forges his own connection with Jones as the true number one that New York has needed since their last LSU wideout, they’ll need at least one more player to help shoulder the load. If they trade Slayton and use that pick to help elsewhere, that could be good, but they’ll have to hope that whomever replaces him can also have a connection with Jones (because I’m not sure how a team can claim to finally try to help a QB by getting rid of his few weapons that he uses). They might get a good pick for Slayton, or they might use him well, but in either case they should stop taking him for granted.
I like Slayton, but if Hyatt steps up this year, he’ll take Slayton’s role for next year.