The Giants made a jolting roster move less than a week before their season opener against the Cowboys, cutting veteran wide receiver Darius Slayton.
Slayton, 29, had been New York’s longest-tenured player and was set to earn $13 million this season. A fifth-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, he leaves the Giants with 296 catches on 522 targets for 4,435 yards and 22 touchdowns.
He never turned into a star in New York, but he carved out a steady role and gave the Giants real value for a late-round pick. Slayton produced four seasons with at least 700 receiving yards and averaged 15 yards per catch during his time with the team.
His final season was his quietest. In 14 games, he finished with 37 receptions on 63 targets for 538 yards and one touchdown. Over his last six games of the 2025 season, he topped 50 receiving yards only once.
Even with that dip, Slayton figures to draw interest quickly. He was a former team captain, and his track record as a dependable complementary receiver should keep him on the radar for teams looking for depth and experience.
One obvious fit is the Colts. Indianapolis still has Alec Pierce, but the team traded Michael Pittman to the Steelers in the offseason and recently added veteran Keenan Allen, who was arrested late last month for suspected DUI. At minimum, Slayton would give the Colts another body at a position where they need help.
The Jets also make sense. New York has Garrett Wilson at the top of the depth chart, but the rest of the room could use support. Slayton would bring depth and could ease some of the burden on Omar Cooper Jr., the 30th overall pick in April’s draft, while also offering veteran guidance as Cooper moves from college to the NFL.
The Saints are another team to watch after losing rookie first-round pick Jordyn Tyson to injured reserve. Tyson suffered a right hamstring injury during a joint practice with the Jacksonville Jaguars and is expected to miss about two months.
That leaves rookie fourth-round pick Bryce Lance slated to start with veteran Chris Olave and Devaughn Vele. Slayton wouldn’t necessarily jump into Tyson’s spot right away, but he could help lighten the load for Lance and give Tyler Shough another option in the passing game.
San Francisco also belongs on the list. The 49ers signed Buccaneers legend Mike Evans and re-signed Deebo Samuel after losing Jauan Jennings to the Vikings in free agency and amid the ongoing absence of Brandon Aiyuk, who appears to have played his final down with the team, if not the NFL.
They still need help after Ricky Pearsall was placed on season-ending injured reserve with a knee injury. Slayton would add depth and fit alongside the rest of the offense’s skill players.
The Patriots are another logical destination. Mike Vrabel has already said his team isn’t very deep, and New England recently dealt Kayshon Boutte to the Houston Texans.
Slayton could help replace that loss, take some attention away from A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs, and give Drake Maye another proven target.
Dallas could also be in the mix, even with CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens already in place. In a pass-heavy offense, another reliable receiver would not hurt. The Cowboys also open the season against the Giants in Week 1, which could make Slayton useful for intel on new Giants coach John Harbaugh’s offense.
Tennessee rounds out the list, and the fit is easy to see. The Titans need receiver help, and Slayton would reunite with offensive coordinator and former Giants coach Brian Daboll in Nashville. Two of Slayton’s best seasons came under Daboll in New York.
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