The Giants’ decision to cut Darius Slayton lands as one of the bigger roster surprises of the week, especially with the season-opener against the Cowboys coming up fast. New York moved on from its longest-tenured player, a 29-year-old receiver who was set to earn $13 million this season.
Slayton leaves the Giants with a substantial body of work for a fifth-round pick. Over his time in New York, he hauled in 296 of 522 targets for 4,435 yards and 22 touchdowns. He never turned into a true headliner, but he carved out a steady role and produced like a dependable pro, including four seasons with at least 700 receiving yards and a 15-yard average per catch.
Last season, though, was a step back. Slayton played 14 games and finished with 37 catches on 63 targets for 538 yards and one touchdown. Over his final six games of the 2025 season, he managed just one outing with more than 50 receiving yards.
Even with that dip, the expectation is that another team will jump in quickly. Slayton’s track record, along with his reputation as a former team captain, gives him a clear appeal as a complementary receiver who knows how to do his job without demanding the spotlight.
A few teams stand out as logical landing spots.
The Colts are an obvious fit after losing Michael Pittman in an offseason trade to the Steelers. They do still have Alec Pierce, and they recently added Keenan Allen, who was arrested late last month for suspected DUI. But Indianapolis could use more help at receiver, and Slayton would at least add depth to a position group that needs it.
The Jets also make sense. Garrett Wilson is the headliner there, but the rest of the room could use reinforcement.
Slayton would bring another proven option and could ease some of the pressure on Omar Cooper Jr., the 30th overall pick in April’s draft. His experience could also help Cooper as he makes the jump from college to the NFL.
New Orleans has a need, too, after Jordyn Tyson went on injured reserve with a right hamstring injury suffered during a joint practice with the Jaguars. Tyson is expected to miss about two months, leaving rookie Bryce Lance slated to start alongside Chris Olave and Devaughn Vele. Slayton might not walk in and take that job right away, but he could lighten the load for Lance and give Tyler Shough another reliable target.
San Francisco is another team worth watching. The 49ers have already added Mike Evans and brought back Deebo Samuel after losing Jauan Jennings to the Vikings in free agency and dealing with Brandon Aiyuk’s ongoing absence, which appears to have been his final down with the team, if not the NFL.
Even after those moves, the loss of Ricky Pearsall to season-ending injured reserve with a knee injury leaves the receiver group short on depth. Slayton would fit as a useful depth piece who can work alongside the rest of the skill talent.
The Patriots also check a lot of boxes. Mike Vrabel recently said his team isn’t very deep, and that alone points to a possible addition.
New England also just moved Kayshon Boutte to the Texans, so another receiver would help. Slayton could give Drake Maye another proven target while also drawing attention away from A.J.
Brown and Romeo Doubs.
Dallas is on the list as well, even if the fit comes with a twist. The Cowboys already have CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens, but in a pass-heavy offense, more receiving help never hurts.
There’s also the possibility of adding Slayton for intel, since Dallas opens against the Giants in Week 1. He could offer some insight into new Giants coach John Harbaugh’s offense.
Tennessee rounds out the group. The Titans need receiver help, and Slayton would also reunite with offensive coordinator and former Giants coach Brian Daboll. Two of Slayton’s best seasons came under Daboll in New York, which makes Nashville a natural place to watch as the next step in his career takes shape.
In Other News...
Kyrie Irvings Return Could Force A Huge Mavs Decision
Kyrie Irving is working his way back from the right knee ACL tear that ended his season, and his return-to-play track has become one of the more interesting moving parts in Dallas. The Mavericks are trying to map out a future that increasingly points toward young talent Cooper Flagg, even as Irving remains an established star whose presence changes the entire shape of the roster.
The uncertainty is what makes this such a complicated front-office storyline. Irvings fit in Dallas still matters on the floor, but his long-term place with the Mavericks is far from settled, and his comeback could sharpen the decision the organization has to make about whether to keep building around him or listen if the market develops around a healthy veteran guard. For now, it is another reminder that Dallas is not just managing a rehab, but a roster direction. [Read more 🡒]
Mavericks Already Look Right For Moving On From This Young Guard
The Mavericks latest roster move was really about opportunity cost. In the six-team deal that brought Santi Aldama to Dallas, the club sent AJ Johnson to Memphis, a reminder of how quickly a young player can become expendable when the fit is off and the shot is not falling. Johnsons path has already been unusually unstable for someone still waiting to settle into a real NBA role, and the Mavericks made it clear they were comfortable moving on rather than waiting for development to catch up.
Memphis did not hold onto him for long either, flipping Johnson again as part of a separate trade package with New Orleans. For Dallas, the sequence underscores a straightforward evaluation of a guard whose shooting struggles and positional fit never seemed to line up with what the team needed. The front office has shown it is willing to keep reshaping the roster around cleaner fits, even if it means closing the book quickly on a player who arrived with some upside but left before there was much chance to see it. [Read more 🡒]
Mavericks Are Quietly Making Moves Fans Should Be Watching
The Mavericks have spent the offseason adding more than just names to the roster conversation. Alongside the usual player-market chatter, Dallas has also been reshaping its basketball operations group, a quieter kind of work that can matter just as much once the season starts. For a team trying to stay sharp on every edge, those back-office moves are part of the larger picture the front office has been building.
One of the more interesting under-the-radar developments is the way Dallas keeps positioning itself for what comes next, both in the organization and around the league. With other front offices still sorting through unresolved business, including Jalen Durens looming decision in Detroit and the ripple effects of delayed roster moves elsewhere, the Mavericks are making sure their own house is in order. It is the sort of steady churn that does not always grab headlines right away, but often ends up mattering when the season begins to turn. [Read more 🡒]