Darius Slayton‘s Giants tenure has included the threat of a departure on multiple occasions. The veteran receiver remained in place through the 2024 season, but he is now a pending free agent.
Slayton agreed to a new Giants pact in 2023, but last summer he made it known he would have been OK with being dealt in the event the team aimed to reduce his role in the offense. Despite the fact New York fell well short of expectations during the campaign – and interest from suitors like the Steelers – the team elected to keep Slayton (and fellow pending free agent) Azeez Ojulari in the fold.
That decision has left the door open to Slayton departing on the open market next week. As could be expected, the 28-year-old is seeking to join a contender in free agency. Each of his six seasons to date have been with the Giants, but only once in that span has the team reached the postseason. New York also, of course, faces uncertainty at the quarterback position after the team’s efforts to trade for Matthew Stafford fell short.
“Definitely, winning and being in an advantageous situation are probably two things that are really important for me right now,” Slayton said when speaking about his goals during an appearance on the Talkin’ Ball With Pat Leonard podcast. “Obviously, five out of my six years with the Giants we weren’t competitive. We didn’t make the playoffs. We weren’t really close to making the playoffs.”
The regime led by general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll authorized Slayton’s most recent contract (a two-year, $12MM pact) but to little surprise Leonard’s piece in the New York Daily News about the situation notes a departure can be expected. The Giants’ receiving corps includes Malik Nabers, Wan’Dale Robinson and Jalin Hyatt on their rookie contracts, but losing Slayton will leave the team short on experience at the position.
Slayton will be an interesting part of this year’s receiver market, which features a host of 30-something standouts (Amari Cooper, Stefon Diggs, Keenan Allen, DeAndre Hopkins and now Davante Adams) but not as many prominent pass catchers south of 30. Slayton joins Chris Godwin, who is also a third-contract-seeking wideout, as top options in their 20s. Diontae Johnson, 28, would have joined them had he not torpedoed his value during a year in which four teams moved on from him.
Slayton should do better than the $6MM-per-year deal he was attached to, as ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler lists him as an under-the-radar player who should fare well on the market. Slayton could certainly help a contender after being a regular Giants target for six seasons. No Giants re-signing is expected, as the Auburn alum appears set to explore the market. The salary cap is now $55MM north of where it was when he last did so.
“When you look at that, my ability to stretch the field becomes more valuable because that leads to shorter drives, one-play touchdowns. You need chunk plays to score in this league,” Slayton told the Daily News reporter. “We know we have a lot of interest out there. And when free agency opens up, we’ll have a lot of different conversations to have with a lot of different people.”
Sam Robinson contributed to this post.
Top spots:
Chiefs. Chargers. Ravens. Bears. 49ers
Longshots: Browns. Patriots. Saints
Homegrown talent goes “I Wanna Win A Ring!” He’d have had a chance at a trophy had the Giants not been so entitled.
Explain how the Giants have been “so entitled”
he’s slightly…very slightly above Avg WR he drops some passes he def won’t be a WR1 anywhere else maybe WR3
Skins need to be all over this guy. Him plus Debo and Terry is sick
I love slayton. Unspectacular yet consistent. Drops a few. Id love to see him used properly as a field stretcher. Chiefs would be a good fit.