With the start of the 2022 campaign slowly approaching, teams will be forced to start cutting down their rosters sooner than later. The NY Giants are no different at the moment. Whether it be through trades or just a release, several notable guys may not be on the roster this summer.
There are an array of reasons why the Giants could move on from several of these players. They could be looking for younger options or players who are just better overall fits. When looking at how their recent draft went, the Giants addressed several positions of need. This could be an indication that they could be looking to move on from some of the older players on the squad.
Here are 3 players the Giants could move on from before the start of the season
Wide receiver Darius Slayton
When the Giants added Darius Slayton in the fifth round of the 2019 draft, there was hope that they found a late-round gem. During his rookie year, he took off for the Giants, recording 48 receptions, 740 receiving yards and eight touchdowns.
Over the past two seasons, Slayton has appeared in 29 games. During this stretch, he has recorded 76 receptions, 1,090 receiving yards and five touchdowns. Like the Giants’ offenses as a whole, Slayton struggled this past season. While he appeared in 13 games, he finished with just 26 receptions.
While Slayton hasn’t returned to the form that he showcased in his first couple of seasons, he is still a talented playmaker. He may just not be a fit on this team at the moment. Their recent addition of wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson, paired alongside reports that the team tried to move Slayton before the draft, only adds fuel to the fire.
Slayton still has the potential to be a valuable player within the Giants offense. His high motor and game-changing speed are something that any team would like to have. However, he has also had his fair share of inconsistencies, whether it be drops or just not being able to produce. While it would be unfortunate to see him go, a team out there could be willing to offer the Giants something in return for Slayton. They may not be able to pass on a deal, especially if it’s a veteran cornerback.
Linebacker Tae Crowder
In Tae Crowder’s two seasons with the Giants, he has already done much more than what was likely expected of him. After the Giants took Crowder with the 255th pick in the 2020 draft, he played in 11 games in his rookie season. In that time, he played well on paper, finishing with 57 total tackles, three tackles for loss and one sack. But, he also posted a PFF grade of 36.4, which was among the worst in the NFL.
In 2021, Crowder carved out an even bigger role within the defense. With the loss of linebacker Blake Martinez for nearly the entire season, Crowder started all 17 games for the Giants. He finished the season with 130 total tackles and three tackles for loss. He also had a PFF grade of 29.1, an even worse outcome than he had in Year 1.
As noted, Crowder has performed when he is on the field and has probably exceeded any of the initial expectations that the Giants had for him. But he has also been inconsistent at times. He has excelled in some areas and struggled heavily in others.
With the Giants adding two linebackers in the draft in Darrian Beavers and Micah McFadden, Crowder’s time could slowly be coming to an end. A new regime has taken over this team, and none of them were there when he was selected. They could choose to go with a “fresh start” and look for the rookies to play a bigger role this upcoming season.
Cornerback Maurice Canady
Veteran cornerback Maurice Canady is one of the more recent additions to the Giants defense. After the team decided to move on from James Bradberry, they brought in Canady to reunite with his former defensive coordinator Wink Martindale.
Canady played in just eight games in 2021. He spent the season with the Dallas Cowboys. He played a total of 70 defensive snaps and recorded six total tackles. The season prior, in 2020, Canady opted to sit out due to the COVID pandemic.
Since being drafted in 2016, Canady has played in a total of 40 games and has started four. He has recorded 86 tackles, three tackles for loss, and one interception. While the Giants brought him in to compete for significant playing time, he is a prime candidate to be released. While the Giants secondary is arguably their weakest link, Canady won’t make or break the group as a whole.
His lack of production and overall small sample size of playing in recent years could lead to the Giants choosing to move on and give a younger player an expanded role. They could also use the roster spot to address other potential needs. The Giants still have the cap space to add another veteran cornerback, and if they were to move on from Canady, they may need to address the position again.