When the New York Giants re-signed veteran wide receiver Darius Slayton in the offseason, there were mixed reactions. On one hand, the G-Men were already thin at wideout and needed bodies. On the other hand, they significantly overpaid for a guy who’s never been more than a pretty good WR3 in any of his six-plus seasons.
His 24 receptions, 366 yards, and a fumble through nine games in 2025 don't exactly scream three-year, $36 million contract -- the full details of the deal he signed back in March. It was a little rich back then, but it looks even worse now.
The former Auburn standout was supposed to be the veteran presence to help take Big Blue's receiver room to the next level. All last season, all the fans heard was that they were "a quarterback away." Well, after starting the season 2-10, firing their head coach, and looking sadder than ever, it might be time to reassess that take.
Moving forward, NY must prioritize building its roster around rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart. That's all that matters. Unfortunately, it's more obvious than ever that he's just not part of the Giants' future.
Giants should take a hard look at Darius Slayton’s place on the roster this offseason
Finding a trade partner for the 28-year-old's services could prove tough. His injury history, age, and lack of production make him borderline untradeable. Still, if the Carolina Panthers can get a fourth-round pick from the Dallas Cowboys for Jonathan Mingo, anything can happen.
If the New York Giants decide to move the seven-year pro in the 2026 offseason, the financial hit is surprisingly manageable. His deal was built for an easy exit, and the numbers make that pretty obvious.
The Giants would eat roughly $6 million in dead money from the remaining prorated bonus, but they would clear a little over $10 million in cap space once his 2026 salary and bonuses shift to the other team. A setup like that pretty much tells you the front office kept an exit in mind, and moving him next spring would be one of the easier cleanups they’ve given themselves in a while.
His contract is directly getting in the way of the Giants extending breakout receiver Wan'Dale Robinson. The 24-year-old is on pace to break 1,000 yards for the first time in his four-year career, all while Slayton struggles with consistency and Malik Nabers is sidelined with a torn ACL.
The fact that his contract is easier to move than anyone realizes makes him an obvious trade piece. It feels like both sides have hit the change of scenery phase of their relationship, and if Schoen truly wants to push this franchise forward, moving on from players who’ve plateaued is a good place to start.