The New York Giants had a strong offseason, but outside optimism about the offense is still hard to find. Returning 10 starters on the conference’s worst offense is a weight on quarterback Russell Wilson’s shoulders, and it’s a referendum on the Giants’ confidence in the supporting cast they’ve already built.
New York had the chance to overhaul the receiving room in 2025, pairing Malik Nabers with a high-profile target. Instead, general manager Joe Schoen re-signed veteran receiver Darius Slayton to a three-year, $36 million deal to return as a starter on the boundary.
In not pursuing an upgrade, Schoen is suggesting that Slayton is a quarterback away from ascending into a more productive starter. He isn’t alone in that opinion.
The Giants veteran was named among the NFL’s most underrated players in a recent ESPN exercise.
“Slayton wasn't supposed to be anything special as a fifth-round pick in 2019, but he started nine games and caught eight touchdown passes in his rookie season,” Aaron Schatz wrote. “Sure, he hasn't come anywhere close to that end zone production since then. But the Giants played Slayton alongside Malik Nabers last season, and you need at least two starting wide receivers to survive in the modern NFL. Slayton caught 39 passes for 573 yards, which was convincing enough for the Giants to bring him back on a three-year, $36 million contract.”
Slayton has been remarkably consistent. In four of his first five seasons, he generated between 45 and 50 for 700-800 yards. Granted, the vast majority of that production has come with Daniel Jones under center. The struggles of the passing offense were bound to limit the unit’s production and reputation.
Wilson’s arrival is undoubtedly good news for Slayton, although it’s worth considering that he was Jones’ most trusted target, a path paved by offseason work as members of the same draft class. They stepped into roles as rookies and saw a similar emergence into starting roles.
Developing a similar rapport with Wilson will be important. Nabers’ target share is guaranteed. Slayton is on less stable ground, especially if the drops that flared up in 2024 stick around.
“Advanced metrics support the move since Slayton has had a positive receiving DVOA (defense-adjusted value over average) for three straight seasons,” Schatz wrote. “And it's not like he has done that while working with any of the NFL's best quarterbacks. With Russell Wilson, Jameis Winston and/or Jaxson Dart under center in 2025, Slayton should continue to work as a deep threat opposite Nabers. He'll probably put up another quietly productive and surprisingly efficient season.”
Wilson’s propensity for stretching the field is good news for Slayton, as it meshes with his strengths as a downfield speedster. A true jump in production may not be in the cards, but as Schatz notes, he’s a safe bet to be a key beneficiary of the quarterback upgrade.