2026 Giants Move on from 29-Year-Old WR
The New York Giants have been making moves in every aspect over the course of this past week. They have been re-signing players to their roster. However, they have also been releasing players. As of today, the Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton was released from the Giants’ roster. It was a long time coming, but Big Blue needed to make changes, and he just needed to be one of them.
The veteran wideout played for New York for the last seven seasons. The Giants drafted Slayton in the 2019 NFL Draft in the fifth round. His stats included 296 receptions, 4,435 receiving yards, 22 touchdowns, and 14.8 yards per reception. Slayton averaged out to roughly 15 yards per carry. Despite that production, he still couldn't hold onto the ball for the team.
Harbaugh stressed that the team is focusing more on performance than salary. The 29-year-old was out in April with core surgery and returned to practices before anyone knew it over the summer. He did well in training camp and preseason. However, it wasn’t enough to keep the Giants happy. The team is also trending towards Malik Nabers making his return debut in Week One and Malachi Fields being an explosive player this coming season. If they had kept him, this veteran would have been a bench backup for most of the season, since these receivers could do more.
This move surprised both Slayton and everyone who had been following the NFL rumors. Just last season, Big Blue signed him to a three-year, $36 million contract with a $9.75 million incentive guarantee. Before that, the Giants tried to trade the wide receiver away but couldn't find a team willing to take on his contract. That left the Giants with no choice but to cut him for now. The veteran wide receiver no longer fits in New York's scheme.
He survived all of the roster cuts during the preseason. The veteran pass catcher was on the bubble for cuts. The Giants still had time to make decisions. The wide receiver room was just too full to hold onto. Harbaugh needed players who would make plays happen. Now Slayton has to hunt for a new team before Week One.
