In a surprising move, the New York Giants have released veteran wide receiver Darius Slayton less than a week before their season-opener against the Dallas Cowboys. Slayton, 29, was the Giants' longest-tenured player and was slated to make $13 million this season. A fifth-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, Slayton caught 296 of 522 targets for 4,435 yards and 22 touchdowns during his time with Big Blue.
While he never became a star in New York, Slayton was nonetheless a solid and consistent player, especially for a former late-round pick. He's had four seasons with at least 700 receiving yards and averaged an impressive 15 yards per catch during his time in New York. Slayton is coming off his least productive season to date.
In 14 games, he caught 37 of 63 targets for 538 yards and a score. He had just one game with over 50 receiving yards during his final six games of the 2025 season. Despite last year's numbers, Slayton will probably be picked up by another NFL team sooner rather than later.
A former team captain, Slayton has a proven track record and, over the years, has displayed the ability to execute his role as a complementary player without needing more of the spotlight. Here's a rundown of some of Slayton's possible landing spots. The Colts were the first team that came to mind following the news of Slayton's release.
The Colts still have Alec Pierce, but they lost Michael Pittman when they traded him to the Steelers during the offseason. The Colts recently signed veteran Keenan Allen, who was arrested late last month for suspected DUI. At the least, signing Slayton would give the Colts some added depth at receiver, which is something they desperately need.
The Big Apple's other team also quickly came to mind upon hearing the news of Slayton's release. Like the Colts, the Jets could also use some added depth at receiver to help complement their top receiver, Garrett Wilson. Signing Slayton would also potentially take some of the pressure off of Omar Cooper Jr., the 30th overall pick in April's draft.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
