Darius Slayton’s eight-year Giants run comes to a surprising image
A longtime member of the New York Giants is unexpectedly looking for a new home as the 2026 NFL season gets underway.
New York released veteran wide receiver Darius Slayton, ending an eight-year run with the organization and moving on from the longest-tenured player on its roster.
The move comes just one year after the Giants brought Slayton back on a three-year, $36 million contract. The 29-year-old was scheduled to earn $13 million during the 2026 season, but New York has instead decided to go in another direction with its receiving corps.
Slayton remained a contributor last season, appearing in 14 games and finishing with 37 receptions for 538 yards and one touchdown. While those numbers weren’t among the biggest of his career, he continued to provide New York with a veteran presence and a receiver capable of creating plays down the field.
His departure closes the book on one of the longer Giants careers in recent years.
New York selected Slayton in the fifth round of the 2019 NFL Draft. He quickly became a productive piece of the offense, recording 48 catches for 740 yards and eight touchdowns as a rookie.
Giants cut veteran playmaker
Over his Giants career, Slayton accumulated 296 receptions, 4,435 receiving yards and 22 touchdowns.
Now, for the first time in his NFL career, he will have an opportunity to play somewhere other than New York.
Slayton’s experience could make him an intriguing option for teams searching for receiving help. He has shown throughout his career that he can stretch the field, and his years of NFL experience could be valuable for a contender dealing with injuries or looking to strengthen its depth.
For the Giants, the decision represents another change to an offense attempting to establish its identity in 2026.
For Slayton, however, it marks the beginning of an unexpected new chapter.
After spending his entire professional career wearing Giants blue, the veteran receiver will now wait to see which NFL team gives him his next opportunity.
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