Darius Slayton has long been floated as a trade candidate, and he could draw interest as an expiring contract ahead of the 2024 deadline. The veteran wideout does not anticipate being moved by the Giants over the coming weeks, however.

“It’s not the first time in my career I’ve been a trade deadline topic,” the 27-year-old said (via Ryan Novozinsky of NJ.com). “It’s probably like the third or fourth time. It’s nothing I haven’t been through before. Obviously all those other times, I still remained here. As for now, I expect that to happen once again — that I’ll be here.”

The 2024 offseason resulted in a short-lived contract dispute between team and player in this case. Slayton was absent from spring practices while attempting to land a new or revised contract. He and the Giants ultimately agreed to a restructure carrying incentives for the 2024 campaign. While New York did not give thought to moving on from Slayton, a deal would not have come as a surprise to the former fifth-rounder.

Slayton’s role in the Giants’ offense was a talking point during the summer, and he would have been on board with a change of scenery if the team planned to lessen his workload in 2024. Instead, Slayton has logged a snap share of 81% this season, remaining a top option in the passing attack. Given the heavy reliance on first-round rookie Malik Nabers, though, Slayton has only received 15 targets through four games. That has resulted in 10 catches for 122 scoreless yards, although a larger role could await him if Nabers’ concussion keeps him out of the lineup in Week 5.

Jalin Hyatt spent the offseason competing with Slayton for a starting spot alongside Nabers and Wan’Dale Robinson. Hyatt impressed during training camp, but he has been confirmed to backup duties so far this year. In spite of that, and a reported expression in frustration during the summer, the Giants are not looking to move the 2023 third-rounder. Both Hyatt and Slayton are likely to remain in place for the time being, although New York could adopt a seller’s approach toward the trade deadline depending on the team’s record.

Slayton changed agents in August, a notable move considering 2024 represents a walk year. Strong production from the Auburn product (who led the Giants in receiving during four of his first five years with the team) would help his market value provided he reaches free agency. As things stand, that will be the first time at which joining a new team will be possible.

Darius Slayton‘s 2024 future is not believed to be in doubt, but he recently made a move with his upcoming free agency in mind. The Giants wideout is now represented by Athletes First, per an announcement from his new representatives.

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Slayton signed a two-year deal in 2022 to remain in New York. The 27-year-old has played with the Giants for each of his five seasons, leading the team in receiving four times. He remained absent from spring practices while aiming for a contract adjustment, and he received it in the form of incentives being added for 2024.

In spite of that, Slayton would have been on board with a trade out of New York. The Giants drafted Malik Nabers at No. 6 overall, adding further to their recent investments in rookies at the receiver position. Wan’Dale Robinson and Jalin Hyatt are also set to take on notable roles in the team’s passing game. If Slayton’s spot in the WR pecking order was under serious threat, he would have welcomed a change of scenery.

However, New York has not given thought to a trade at any point. Slayton has received at least 71 targets four times in his career, and he set a new personal mark in receiving yards (770) last season. The presence of Nabers and any development from the Giants’ recent draftees could limit his playing time to a degree, but Slayton should remain a key member of the team’s offense for at least one more campaign

The receiver market witnessed another major jump this offseason, with the top of the market reaching $35MM per season. Slayton will not approach that figure on his next contract, regardless of how well he performs in 2024. Still, his value will be determined in large part by his showing this year as quarterback Daniel Jones and Co. look to deliver a much-needed step forward on offense. When Slayton next hits free agency, he will have a spent a full campaign with new representation.

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.

Joining Courtland Sutton as a starter-level wide receiver — but one south of the NFL’s top tier — to angle for a contract adjustment this offseason, Darius Slayton returned to work during Giants OTAs. A minor incentive update took place to bring the sixth-year pass catcher back to the team.

Rather than threaten Daniel Jones‘ job security and future in New York with a quarterback move in the first round, the Giants likely impacted Slayton’s by choosing Malik Nabers sixth overall. Slayton, who has led the Giants in receiving yards four times in the past five years, still stands to play a regular role in 2024. But the Giants also have Joe Schoen draftees Wan’Dale Robinson and Jalin Hyatt on the roster, complicating the Dave Gettleman-era draftee’s status.

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Slayton, however, expects to remain a regular presence. But if the Giants were not planning to use the former fifth-rounder frequently, he would have welcomed a trade.

“I don’t play football to just play,” Slayton said during an appearance on Keyshawn Johnson’s All Facts, No Brakes podcast (via the New York Daily News). “I want the chance to show that I’m amongst the best in the game. But the reality of being a receiver is if you don’t get the opportunities to do so, you’re not gonna have the production.

“Obviously you’re trying to maximize your dollars. But at the same time, I kinda wanted to make sure it was known that if being here and me being a part of the offense — and being a big part of the offense — is not the thing here, then that’s OK. But we’d either like to move on and go somewhere else or make the investment that implies that I am that. So that was kind of where we ended up.”

It will still be interesting to see if Slayton’s role diminishes significantly, as the Giants will be aiming for Nabers to lead the way at receiver. Slayton has been a de facto No. 1 wideout for a team that has made some missteps at the position since trading Odell Beckham Jr., never exceeding 800 receiving yards in a season but eclipsing 700 four times. Slayton only commanded 79 targets last season; that ranked 52nd in the NFL last season.

Neither Robinson nor Hyatt have become reliable performers just yet, either, but the Giants have those Day 2 draftees respectively signed through 2025 and 2026. Slayton’s two-year, $12MM deal expires at season’s end. Even though the 27-year-old veteran returned to the Giants in May, he will probably come up in trade rumors — especially if Robinson and/or Hyatt take a step forward — before the November deadline. If the Giants wanted to move on before the season, no guaranteed money remains on Slayton’s deal.

Isaiah Hodgins, Allen Robinson and others are vying for the team’s No. 5 wide receiver spot, but Slayton — who rebounded from a rare rookie-deal pay cut in 2022 to sign his $6MM-per-year accord — is viewed as safely on the roster. With a few teams in need of receiver help, Slayton’s status will be worth monitoring in the months before the deadline.

While the Giants and Darius Slayton have yet to resolve the receiver’s salary concerns, it sounds like the player was at practice today. As Dan Duggan of The Athletic observes, Slayton was in attendance at Giants OTAs.

[RELATED: Trade Candidate: Darius Slayton]

Slayton was absent during the early portions of organized team activities as he pursues a new contract. The wideout re-signed with the Giants last offseason on a two-year, $12MM pact. He’s already earned a $2.6MM roster bonus this year, and he’s attached to a base salary of $2.5MM for the 2024 season.

GM Joe Schoen previously expressed optimism that the two sides would come to a resolution, and Slayton hinted that his camp was having conversations with the organization. However, since news first broke of Slayton’s contract pursuit, the Giants have only made it easier on themselves to move on from their top wide receiver. The team used the sixth-overall pick on LSU’s Malik Nabers, although Schoen did say the selection wouldn’t impact the front office’s handling of the Slayton situation.

While Slayton is apparently back at practice, his future in New York will continue to be murky until he signs an extension. The receiver has already been mentioned as a trade candidate, and even though the Giants couldn’t command a significant return for the veteran, they still might see some incentive in moving off his $8.15MM cap hit for 2024.

The former fifth-round pick has transformed into New York’s top receiver in recent years. Despite an inconsistent offensive role, the 27-year-old has still topped 700 receiving yards in four of his five NFL seasons, including a 2023 campaign where he finished with a career-high 770 receiving yards. While he’s sat atop the depth chart in recent years, Slayton would never be confused with a true No. 1 receiver, but the player could still justify a pay raise as a No. 2 wideout.