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Giants Cut Longest-Tenured Player Darius Slayton
Confirmed
In Short: The New York Giants have released veteran wide receiver Darius Slayton, a move that creates cap space and ends his long tenure with the team.
The New York Giants announced Tuesday afternoon that they have released veteran wide receiver Darius Slayton, a move that creates cap space and ends his long tenure with the team. Slayton, who was drafted by the Giants in the fifth round of the 2019 NFL Draft, played in 106 games for the team, starting 78. He was the longest-tenured player on the roster and was set to make $13 million this season.
Slayton provided a much-needed vertical element to the Giants' offense but struggled with consistent route running. According to reports, he had double sports hernia surgery in the offseason and admitted he was not running as well as he could. The Giants create just $3.16 million in cap space while taking on $12.75 million in dead cap money by releasing Slayton.
Slayton's impact on the Giants was immediate as a rookie, and he led the team in receiving in each of his first five seasons (2019, 2020, 2022, and 2023). Despite never cracking 800 yards receiving, he did eclipse 700 yards in four of those seasons. However, his performance in the 2023 season was his least productive to date.
The Giants currently have wide receivers Dalen Cambre, Jalin Hyatt, and newly-signed Charlie Jones on the practice squad. Slayton quickly took to social media after his release, expressing his disappointment. Two of his best seasons were during the tenure of current Giants coach Brian Daboll, who has been praised for his work with the wide receiver.
What's confirmed
What's still developing
- At the least, signing Slayton would give the Colts some added depth at receiver, which is something they desperately need.
- 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.