The New York Giants released veteran wide receiver Darius Slayton on Monday, ending a seven-year stay that began when New York selected him in the fifth round of the 2019 NFL draft.
The team announced the move on its official account. Slayton had survived last weekend’s cutdown and was listed on the initial 53-man roster, but he did not last another week. The Giants open the season Sunday night against the Dallas Cowboys at MetLife Stadium.
Slayton, 29, was in Year 2 of a three-year, $36 million contract. His 2026 cap charge sat near $15.9 million. Because the release counts as a post-June 1 cut, New York saves about $3.16 million this season while absorbing $12.75 million in dead money now and another $3 million in 2027.
He underwent core-muscle
surgery in April and never fully regained his usual burst. In Friday’s preseason finale against the New York Jets, he played 33 snaps without a target. Last season he finished with 37 receptions for 538 yards and one touchdown in 14 games. For his Giants career, he recorded 296 catches for 4,435 yards and 22 scores in 106 games.
Head coach John Harbaugh has stressed performance over salary. Malik Nabers is trending toward playing in Week 1, rookie Malachi Fields has earned a featured role, and Darnell Mooney and Odell Beckham Jr. have moved ahead of Slayton. The veteran now hits the open market as a low-cost depth option six days before kickoff.
This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: New York Giants release WR Darius Slayton
