The Giants’ decision to cut Darius Slayton landed as a stunner, especially with the season-opener against the Dallas Cowboys just days away. New York moved on from its longest-tenured player, a veteran wideout who was set to make $13 million this season.
Slayton, 29, leaves the organization after arriving as a fifth-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft and building a steady body of work in blue. Over his time with the Giants, he hauled in 296 of 522 targets for 4,435 yards and 22 touchdowns. He never turned into a headline star, but he carved out a reliable role and did it with real efficiency, posting four seasons of at least 700 receiving yards and averaging 15 yards per catch.
His final year in New York was his quietest. In 14 games, Slayton caught 37 of 63 targets for 538 yards and one touchdown, and over the last six games of the 2025 season he topped 50 receiving yards only once.
Even with that dip, the expectation is that another team will jump in quickly. Slayton has been a team captain, has shown he can handle a complementary role, and brings a track record that should still appeal to clubs looking for dependable receiver help.
The Colts fit that bill right away. Indianapolis still has Alec Pierce, but the room took a hit when Michael Pittman was traded to the Steelers during the offseason.
The Colts also recently added Keenan Allen, who was arrested late last month for suspected DUI. At the very least, Slayton would give them another body and some badly needed depth.
The Jets are another logical match. New York could use more help around Garrett Wilson, and Slayton would also ease some of the burden on Omar Cooper Jr., the 30th overall pick in April’s draft. His experience and leadership could help Cooper settle in as he makes the jump from college to the NFL.
New Orleans also has a clear opening after rookie first-round pick Jordyn Tyson was placed on injured reserve with a right hamstring injury suffered during a joint practice with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Tyson is expected to miss about two months.
That leaves rookie fourth-round pick Bryce Lance in line to start with Chris Olave and Devaughn Vele. Slayton wouldn’t necessarily step right into Tyson’s spot, but he could still take some pressure off Lance and give Tyler Shough another dependable target.
San Francisco is on the list too. The 49ers signed Buccaneers legend Mike Evans and re-signed 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 in the NFL.
Then Ricky Pearsall went down with a season-ending knee injury, leaving the 49ers even thinner at receiver. Slayton would give them depth and another piece to fit alongside the rest of their skill talent.
The Patriots make sense for their own reasons. Mike Vrabel has already acknowledged the roster isn’t very deep, and Slayton could help offset the recent trade of Kayshon Boutte to the Houston Texans.
He would also draw some attention away from A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs while giving Drake Maye another proven pass-catcher.
Dallas would be a wild-card possibility, but not an unreasonable one. The Cowboys already have CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens, yet another veteran receiver would fit in a pass-heavy offense. There’s also the added wrinkle of Week 1 against the Giants, and Slayton could provide intel on new Giants coach John Harbaugh’s offense.
Tennessee rounds out the list, and the connection there is obvious. The Titans need help at receiver, and Slayton would reunite with offensive coordinator and former Giants coach Brian Daboll. Two of Slayton’s best seasons came while Daboll was coaching the Giants.
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