Wide receiver Darius Slayton entered the NFL as a fifth-round pick in 2019 with the New York Giants. He immediately formed a bond with the team's top pick in that draft, quarterback Daniel Jones.
Slayton quickly became Jones' favorite target in the passing game and was the Giants' top receiver for four of his first five seasons. But once the Giants cut ties with Jones in 2024 after multiple injury issues, Slayton's days with the Giants were numbered, which seemed odd since they had signed him to a three-year, $36 million deal before the 2025 season.
Slayton simply did not fit into new head coach John Harbaugh's vision, and one week after the team finalized its 53-man roster, they released Slayton. It surprised many, but not him.
"Not really" Darius
Slayton on if he was surprised the Giants released him pic.twitter.com/zUK5UFdARO
— Giants Nation Show (@GiantsNationPod) September 24, 2026
This week, after the Indianapolis Colts lost their top receiver, Alec Pierce, to a heel injury, Slayton decided to reunite with his old quarterback, something he sees as a natural fit.
"Really enjoyed playing alongside him [Jones]. He's a good quarterback. He's smart. He can spin it. ... Philosophically, I think we see the field pretty similarly, and that's something that worked well for us in the past," Slayton said at a press conference on Wednesday afternoon. "And I expect it to work well for us going forward."
In his five-plus years with Jones in New York, Slayton had 181 receptions for 2,595 yards and 12 touchdowns, the most of any Giants receiver from Jones over that span.
Slayton told reporters that several teams contacted him last week, but he hadn't committed to any offers. When Pierce got hurt, Slayton saw an opening he felt was suited for him and went for it.
"Sunday night (in the Colts' 33-30 loss to Kansas City) they didn't get the win, but I feel like they played really well," Slayton said of the Colts. "They're a good unit. I saw that Pierce went down — obviously, I wasn't cheering for that. But I knew that kind of would provide some opportunity here as well."
Without Slayton, the Giants' wide receiver room hasn't exactly lit it up. Their leading receiver through two games is tight end Isaiah Likely (13 receptions, 111 yards, two touchdowns, and nine first downs).
Malik Nabers has just seven catches for 70 yards, while rookie Malachi Fields (4 catches, 55 yards) and Darnell Mooney (4-for-75) have been lightly involved. Odell Beckham Jr.? He has no stats in the first two games. He has played just 14 snaps this season.
This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: Darius Slayton was 'not really' surprised by New York Giants release
