The Houston Texans still have questions at wide receiver entering the 2026 season despite adding Kayshon Boutte last month via trade.
Could a recently released veteran make sense for the passing attack as a No. 4 option?
The New York Giants released wide receiver Darius Slayton, the longest-tenured player on the team, on Monday following a seven-year run with Blue Blue Nation. A 2018 fifth-round pick, Slayton had 296 catches for 4,435 receiving yards and 22 touchdowns during his time as the No. 3 option in the Big Apple.
Slayton, at one point, was a potential trade target for the Texans during the 2024 season following the season-ending injury to Stefon Diggs. Instead, the two sides couldn't get a deal done, resulting in Houston bringing in Diontae
Johnson off waivers from the Baltimore Ravens.
Houston has a stable No. 1 option in Nico Collins, a three-time Pro Bowl playmaker who should be a walking 1,000-yard bona fide target when healthy. Boutte, who enters the final year of his rookie deal, remains one of the league's best vertical threats after averaging nearly 17 yards per catch last fall in New England. He was brought in to fill the void left by Jayden Higgins' season-ending torn ACL.
Grateful for my time in NY. 7 years a Giant nothing but love for one of the most prestigious organizations in the NFL. Excited to see what’s next 🙏🏾
— Darius Slayton (@Young_Slay2) September 7, 2026
But the No. 3 option remains a mystery. Xavier Hutchinson and Jared Wayne have never been able to consistently prove their ceilings are high enough for a large role in the offense. Meanwhile, second-year receiver Jaylin Noel is a mystery as a receiver and could be used as a return man only.
Slayton, 29, had six seasons of at least 500 receiving yards for the Giants, which would rank third for Houston last fall behind Collins and Higgins. He's been a quality No. 3 option during his time in New York, though he has had to prove himself on different staffs about being more than just a depth piece.
The major concern for any team bringing in Slayton would be his drop ratio. Since entering the league in 2019, the former Auburn star has 26 drops since entering the league, which is tied for the 12th-most among wide receivers.
While Slayton could be picked up off waivers by a team ahead of Houston, it could be wise to at least test out the veteran early on the season. With Tank Dell sidelined for at least four games, Houston could use one more veteran to set the tone for its offense under second-year coordinator Nick Caley.
Since Darius Slayton is leaving, here’s some of his best drops🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/Ybg4wZFwCE
— GiantsMuse (@Giants_muse) September 7, 2026
Pricing and the luck of the draw, however, could be the reason why the Texans pass on adding a solid depth piece to the unit ahead of Week 1's matchup against the Buffalo Bills.
This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Should the Texans be in on recently released Giants WR Darius Slayton?
