Tag: Darius Slayton

Darius Slayton returns to Giants amid contract dispute

Veteran wide receiver Darius Slayton returned to the New York Giants on Tuesday amid a minor contract dispute.

New York Giants veteran wide receiver Darius Slayton, who was absent for the team’s first three OTAs this spring, was in attendance for Tuesday’s session at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center.

Slayton has been angling for a contract extension but decided to show perhaps due to the influx of talent the team has brought in at wide receiver this offseason.

General manager Joe Schoen used the sixth overall pick in this year’s draft to snare LSU stud Malik Nabers and inked veteran Allen Robinson in free agency.

That is in addition to the young core of wideouts the team has already surrounded Slayton with in recent seasons, most notably Wan’Dale Robinson, Jalin Hyatt, Isaiah Hodgins, and Bryce Ford-Wheaton.

Slayton, a fifth-round pick out of Auburn back in 2019, has been quarterback Daniel Jones’ top target much of the time together.

Slayton signed a two-year, $12 million deal last spring that included a $3.5 million signing bonus and $4.9 million in guaranteed money.

This year, Slayton will earn a base salary of $2.5 million with a roster bonus of $2.6 million (which he’s already collected) along with a workout bonus of $350k. Slayton’s cap hit for this year is $8.1 million and the dead cap hit is listed at $4.35 million.

Slayton is attempting to extend his Giants’ career, contending he could have signed lengthier offers last offseason with other clubs.

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Darius Slayton, Darren Waller remain away from Giants

New York Giants TE Darren Waller and WR Darius Slayton remain away from the team as organized team activities (OTAs) roll on.

As the New York Giants continue to plow through their offseason workout program, two prominent offensive veterans remain absent.

Tight end Darren Waller and wide receiver Darius Slayton were not in attendance again during Thursday’s practice at the Quest Diagnostics Training Canter.

Waller has been away from the team while he ponders his football future while Slayton is gunning for a contract extension. Last season, Waller was second on the team with 52 receptions. Slayton was third with 50.

“They are not. No,” said head coach Brian Daboll when asked if either player was in the building on Thursday.

The Giants are likely giving Waller until June 1 to make his decision as the salary cap charge situation changes then.

“I would say the same thing I said last month, let Darren take what he needs to take and once the decision is made, we’ll go from there,” Daboll said. “we have conversations, obviously, but when Darren makes his decision, that’s what we’ll go with.”

Slayton is on the second leg of a two-year, $12 million deal but wants the Giants to commit for longer as he had other opportunities last summer and chose to stay with the team.

“I’ve spoken to Slay,” said Daboll, who said the conversations have been ‘fine.’ “So, again, this is voluntary. If he wants to be here, great. If there’s anyone that doesn’t want to be here, that’s their choice, that’s why it’s voluntary.”

Slayton has been the Giants’ leading receiver since the team selected him out of Auburn in the fifth round of the 2019 NFL draft. They have been building up their wide receiver corps the past few seasons, so his importance has dwindled a bit heading into this offseason.

Daboll was asked if he saw any resolution to either situation anytime soon.

“I would say whenever they decide, they decide. Darius is obviously under contract, so, again, whenever it comes up, we’ll deal with it then,” he said.

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Is Giants’ receiving corps among the league’s most improved?

Pro Football Focus believes the New York Giants’ receiving corps is among the NFL’s most improved following an offseason of work.

The 2024 NFL draft saw several teams upgrade their receiver rooms. Are the New York Giants among the teams that improved the most?

Bradley Locker of Pro Football Focus believes so:

Darius Slayton’s ongoing contract discussions combined with the Giants having the worst receiving grade in the league last year left the team in need of some juice at wideout. The team got exactly that in LSU’s Malik Nabers, who led the FBS in receiving grade in 2023 (minimum 15 targets). A staple of Nabers’ game is slipperiness after the catch, as reflected by his 30 missed tackles forced last year.

If Slayton does remain in blue and red, he’ll form a potent one-two punch with the 20-year-old Nabers. Regardless, Nabers provides real insurance, given the inconsistent production of Wan’Dale Robinson and Jalin Hyatt, who each tallied less than 530 yards in 2023.

Beyond Nabers, general manager Joe Schoen was proactive in finding a new tight end. Veteran Darren Waller continues to seriously mull retirement, so the Giants snatched Penn State’s Theo Johnson at 107th overall. Not only did Johnson test incredibly well — with a 9.93 Relative Athletic Score — but he was also a red-zone weapon for the Nittany Lions. His seven touchdowns in 2023 tied for a team high.

Daniel Bellinger projects as TE1 for New York, but Johnson should feature in 12 personnel, which offensive coordinator Mike Kafka ran on 23% of plays in 2023 — the 12th-highest rate in the NFL.

Assuming quarterback Daniel Jones remains under center, both the explosive Nabers and Johnson should augment a poor group from the year before. Both could go a long way in returning the Giants’ offense to its efficient 2022 form.

New York went into the 2023 season with one of the worst receiving corps in the NFL. It was highlighted by Darren Waller, Darius Slayton, Parris Campbell and Wan’Dale Robinson.

Waller was in the back end of his career and not very productive, and it was clear that Slayton, Campbell and Robinson should not be top receiving options on the team. This resulted in the Giants passing for only 3,351 yards and 15 touchdowns.

The deficiency was clear, and the front office decided to address it with a premium draft pick by selecting wide receiver Malik Nabers sixth overall.

In his collegiate career, Nabers totaled 189 receptions for 3,003 yards and 21 touchdowns (14 in his final season). Nabers should be an instant winner on the outside as he is an elite space creator and is electric with the ball in his hands.

The Giants also drafted tight end Theo Johnson, who racked up 77 receptions for 938 yards and 12 touchdowns (seven in his final season) in his collegiate career.

The two rookies totaled more touchdowns last season than the Giants’ entire receiving corps. Only time will tell if the team has really turned the receiving corps around but as of now, it looks good.

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Darius Slayton named an offseason loser for Giants

New York Giants WR Darius Slayton is listed an offseason loser after most of the team’s reconstruction is complete.

The 2024 NFL draft has concluded, free agency is in a lull and the New York Giants are essentially done making significant moves.

There may be a few stragglers yet, but the end-of-season roster reconstruction is largely complete, leading The Athletic’s Dan Duggan to determine the Giants’ offseason winners and losers.

Among the team’s losers was wide receiver Darius Slayton, which may surprise some as he was somewhat of a bright spot on a lackluster offense in 2023.

Slayton hasn’t attended the voluntary offseason program because he’s unhappy with his contract. The Nabers selection is a major blow to Slayton’s leverage, although he said at the Gridiron Gala that he’s confident the sides will come to a resolution soon. Even if Slayton can squeeze a raise out of the Giants, he’s still looking at a potentially reduced role, with the team clearly viewing its draft picks over the past three years — Nabers, Jalin Hyatt and Wan’Dale Robinson — as the future at receiver.

Most of that is true, but Hyatt and Robinson are still developing and Malik Nabers is a rookie. In 2023, Slayton had his best season to date, so it stands to reason he wants more money. On top of that, most wide receivers peak around their mid-to-late-20s, right where Slayton is now.

Slayton might have a reduced role if he doesn’t return to the team soon, but there’s no reason to assume that will be the case off the bat. He’s their most reliable resource for Jones until someone else proves that to be different. Maybe Nabers does that, but maybe he doesn’t. We won’t really know until the team hits the field together later this summer.

Other losers mentioned are Evan Neal, Josh Ezedu, Azeez Ojulari, Cor’Dale Flott, and Dane Belton.

Winners were Daniel Jones, Eric Gray, Daniel Bellinger, Kayvon Thibodeaux, and Nick McCloud.

In 2023, Slayton caught 50 of 79 passes (over 63%) for 770 yards and four touchdowns.

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Darius Slayton ‘confident’ a contract resolution can be reached with Giants

Wide receiver Darius Slayton says he’s “confident” a contract resolution can be reached with the New York Giants ahead of training camp.

New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton remains away from the team as he continues to seek a contract extension.

Despite Slayton’s absence, general manager Joe Schoen was adamant that he would not be traded but also stopped short of suggesting any sort of new deal would be reached.

“These are voluntary workouts. There’s been players since I’ve been here that haven’t been here, and I understand that. I love Darius,” Schoen said before the 2024 NFL draft. “Michael Perrett is his agent. He’s a very good friend of mine. I understand where he’s coming from, and that’s his prerogative to not be here. They are voluntary workouts, so that’s understood.

“We haven’t had conversations about any type of extension.”

Since making those comments, things have apparently changed.

On Wednesday night at the annual Gridiron Gala, where he was being honored for his work within the community, Slayton expressed confidence that he and the Giants would reach an agreement on a new contract.

“Right now, my agent and Joe, they’re in negotiations. They’re talking,” Slayton said, via ESPN. “Hopefully we’ll come to a resolution here soon.

“I don’t think it will get to that point (of missing training camp). Like I said, it’s been good, constant communication throughout the whole process. It’ll be resolved soon.”

Ultimately, Slayton says, he’d like to remain with the Giants long-term.

“I’d like to be here, of course,” he said. “I’ve enjoyed my time as a Giant and I’d like to remain a Giant. Hopefully, that will be the result of this.”

Slayton was paid a roster bonus of $2.4 million in March and is owed another $2.7 million for the upcoming season.

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Giants have no plans to trade WR Darius Slayton

New York Giants GM Joe Schoen says there are no plans to trade veteran wide receiver Darius Slayton, who he praises as reliably consistent.

New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton is skipping the team’s voluntary offseason workout program as he seeks a new contract.

Thus far, the two sides have not talked about an extension and that seems unlikely to change.

“That doesn’t change anything,” Shoen said during his pre-draft press conference. “These are voluntary workouts. There’s been players since I’ve been here that haven’t been here, and I understand that. I love Darius.

“Michael Perrett is his agent. He’s a very good friend of mine. I understand where he’s coming from, and that’s his prerogative to not be here. They are voluntary workouts, so that’s understood.”

With Slayton away from the team and LSU superstar Malik Nabers selected in Round 1 of the 2024 NFL draft, it has led many to speculate about Slayton’s future.

Could the Giants trade him for additional draft capital? Does he even fit on a roster consisting of Nabers, Jalin Hyatt, and Wan’Dale Robinson?

Schoen was asked that very question on Friday night following Round 3 of the draft and immediately shut down any notion of Slayton being moved.

“No,” Schoen said when asked if Slayton could be traded. “We’ve already paid a roster bonus. He had one that kicked in the fifth day of the league year, and you look at the P5, where that is, and you want to look at the production from last year to this year and you take all those things into account. Us drafting Malik Neighbors doesn’t affect where we are on that.”

The Giants paid Slayton a roster bonus of $2.4 million in March. He’s owed just $2.7 million in salary this coming season, making him a relatively cheap option given his consistency over the years. He’s also endeared himself to head coach Brian Daboll after a rough start and is a comfort target of quarterback Daniel Jones.

Unless Slayton holds out into the regular season — something that’s highly unlikely — he’ll suit up and play for the Giants in 2024.

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Giants haven’t talked contract extension for Darius Slayton

New York Giants GM Joe Schoen says the team has not discussed a contract extension for WR Darius Slayton, who is currently skipping workouts.

The New York Giants selected wide receiver Darius Slayton in the fifth round of the 2019 NFL draft. He entered the league with a lot of hype around his potential.

Slayton performed well enough under his rookie contract to earn a two-year extension worth $12.2 million, of which he will earn $6.2 million in 2024.

But Slayton isn’t in attendance for voluntary workouts, instead choosing not to report while he seeks another payday. That, of course, has led to questions about Slayton being present for other workouts and what his status for the season might look like.

Giants general manager Joe Schoen was asked about Slayton’s absence during his pre-draft press conference on Thursday and whether or not it changes how he views the roster.

“That doesn’t change anything,” Shoen said. “These are voluntary workouts. There’s been players since I’ve been here that haven’t been here, and I understand that. I love Darius.

“Michael Perrett is his agent. He’s a very good friend of mine. I understand where he’s coming from, and that’s his prerogative to not be here. They are voluntary workouts, so that’s understood.”

Slayton was the Giants’ most productive receiver in 2023. He recorded 50 receptions for 770 yards and four touchdowns. He led the receiving corps. with those numbers and was responsible for the longest pass play of the season.

That Slayton thinks he deserves more money isn’t all that crazy when you consider the numbers he put up with three different quarterbacks and a league-worst offensive line.

Still, the Giants have not (yet?) entertained the idea of extending his contract.

“We haven’t had conversations about any type of extension,” Schoen said.

Slayton has $350,000 available in workout bonuses this spring but may be willing to miss out on those in hopes of obtaining more money.

Let’s also remember something very important that Schoen said: These workouts are voluntary.

There are no consequences for missing these workouts, other than the implications on the field from missing time with teammates. Should he hold out from mandatory workouts, things will look different.

Schoen also continues to be mum on the Darren Waller situation. The Giants seem content to let him take his time deciding if he’s going to retire and have not said anything about giving him a deadline.

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Giants’ Darius Slayton seeking new contract, skipping voluntary workouts

New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton is reportedly skipping the voluntary offseason workout program as he seeks a new contract.

The New York Giants began their voluntary offseason workout program on Monday and head coach Brian Daboll was pleased with the initial attendance.

“Very good turnout,” he told reporters.

There is one notable absence, however. Wide receiver Darius Slayton has not arrived in East Rutherford and apparently has no plans to as he seeks a new contract from the Giants, reports Jordan Raanan of ESPN.

Wide receiver Darius Slayton has not reported to the New York Giants’ voluntary workouts while he seeks a contract extension from the team, a source told ESPN.

The Giants re-signed Slayton to a two-year, $12.2 million contract last offseason. He’s due to earn $6.2 million in 2024 but after leading the team in receiving four of the past five seasons, he feels he’s owed more.

In 76 career games, Slayton has hauled in 220 receptions for 3,324 yards and 19 touchdowns. He’s been consistently productive but not necessarily a game-changer. And with the team likely to add a true No. 1 receiver in the 2024 NFL draft, it’s unlikely Slayton will be blessed with the new contract he desires.

Slayton has $350,000 available in workout bonuses this spring but may be willing to miss out on those in hopes of obtaining more money.

In addition to Slayton, tight end Darren Waller is also skipping voluntary workouts as he continues to contemplate retirement.

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Giants offseason bookkeeping: 3 contracts voided, bonuses coming due

The New York Giants had three contracts voided in the days after the Super Bowl, while other player bonuses are soon coming due.

As free agency approaches in a month, the New York Giants have other administrative things to handle, like bonus payouts and other contract-related items.

On Feb. 14, the contracts of A’Shawn Robinson, Adoree’ Jackson and Tyrod Taylor were all voided.

Robinson had a so-so season — mediocre when looking at his past production. He recorded 62 tackles (34 solo), two passes defensed and 12.5 stuffs but did improve down the stretch.

Jackson was, at times, a bright spot on the defense, like when he returned an interception for a touchdown. He added 63 tackles (49 solo), a forced fumble and eight passes defensed.

Taylor’s entire career has been full of setbacks. He’s a solid quarterback, but he can’t stay healthy. Although this season it wasn’t entirely his fault — the Giants had the worst offensive line in the league. Even so, he completed over 64% of his passes for 1,341 yards and five touchdowns. He was also sacked 17 times and threw three interceptions.

All three of those players are veterans who will not have trouble finding a home. And it’s possible that they could end up back in blue, but for now, they are free agents.

In other contract news, Jamie Gillan is due a $250,000 roster bonus, and Darius Slayton is due a $2.4 million roster bonus on March 18, which is the same day Rakeem Nunes-Roches receives $2 million of his 2024 salary fully guaranteed.

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Every NFL team’s receiving leader from the 2023 regular season

Each team’s leader in receiving yards from 2023

Look, we know the Carolina Panthers had a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad year—particularly on offense. But fair is fair, and we already gave you passing and rushing leaders.

So, let’s finish it out and run through each team’s leader in receiving yards from the 2023 regular season.