Too Many Drops, Not Enough Production: New York Giants Wide Receiver Problem

The New York Football Giants have already endured a disastrous season. Sitting at 2-13 and holding the first overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the franchise is staring directly at a full-scale rebuild. After this weekend’s matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders, the Giants will have just one game remaining before turning their attention entirely to the offseason. At that point, the focus must shift toward player development and long-term roster reconstruction.

Injuries only made matters worse for the Giants this season. Wide receivers Malik Nabers and Cam Skattebo, both missed significant time, preventing the offense from gaining any real continuity. When those two were on the field, the Giants briefly showed flashes of what could become a promising core for the future. However with Nabers sidelined, Darius Slayton has been elevated to a starting receiver. The Giants have had one issue after another with him this season, and he needs to go or sit on the bench before any more damage is done to the offensive line at the end of this season.

Slayton is currently in the first year of a three-year, $36 million contract extension he signed in March 2025. The deal was justified by his past production, as he led the team in receiving yards in four of his six seasons with New York. While Slayton has provided veteran presence, his on-field impact has not matched his contract. His inconsistency has stalled offensive development rather than supporting it. Despite continuing to run routes designed to help rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart can get the ball to him. However, Slayton isn’t confident enough in catching the ball. He’s had 31 receptions out of 51 so far this season alone.

The Giants need to rethink him for this coming season. His difficulty securing the ball has become a recurring issue, and missed opportunities have disrupted offensive rhythm. While he has limited his fumbles to one this season, an improvement from previous years, ball security alone does not outweigh his struggles as a dependable target. The Giants need to consider bringing in someone younger to continue their rebuild around Dart. Big Blue needs a backup for Nabers, and it requires someone who can execute the plays. The Giants need to rethink plenty of other areas of their team that need improvement, but the issue surrounding their wide reciever is the Giants top priority to fix before next year’s season.