Casablanca’s famous line, “I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship,” might not be on Darius Slayton’s mind. Still, with his recent success and Russell Wilson’s impressive NFL career, there’s a chance that sentiment fits.
Slayton is known for his long-range capabilities, and Wilson excels at throwing deep. That connection could certainly energize the Giants.
“I love going deep,” Slayton mentioned after a recent OTA practice. “We can all run. Malik [Nabers], Jarin [Hyatt]—you name it, even Onedale [Robinson] has his legs moving!”
He added, “At the OTA, everyone seemed to get a chance with the ball, which is great. It helps to stretch the field, and that means more yards per catch.”
If that chemistry develops, Wilson would certainly justify the Giants’ investment of $10.5 million this year. Slayton would likely feel even better about his decision to stick around.
Last season frequently felt like a grind for Slayton, particularly during the tough 3-14 stretch. There were moments when he seemed weary, reflecting on yet another dismal offensive performance. It must be tough to spend six years with a franchise that’s had just one playoff appearance and struggles to get the ball moving.
“It’s tiring,” he admitted.
When the team made changes, including bringing in someone to revamp the situation, co-owner John Mara believed that Slayton had earned his place amid such uncertainty.
He resisted the urge to seek a fresh start elsewhere, which is impressive given the circumstances. Surprisingly, the Giants chose not to pursue wide receiver help from outside the organization, eventually signing Slayton to a three-year, $33 million deal, with $22 million guaranteed.
This was a turnaround for Slayton, especially since the new regime had him cut his salary just to stay on the roster in 2022.
“He’s a professional above all else,” said coach Brian Daboll. “When called upon, he steps up. His leadership and experience in the NFL provide valuable guidance to the younger players. He’s earned the trust of the quarterbacks, and we appreciate his consistent work ethic.”
Slayton’s friendship and support for quarterback Daniel Jones have been notable. You could say they’ve been through a lot together since the 2019 draft class.
“I’m obviously back and confident in our direction,” Slayton noted. “When we make acquisitions, there’s a lot of discussion about the quarterback.”
His performance last season saw a dip, with only 39 receptions—one of the lowest in his six years. Although he had 71 targets, the quarterback play was challenging, impacting distribution among four players (Jones, Tommy DeVito, Drew Locke, and Tim Boyle).
Still, Slayton averaged 14.7 yards per catch, which aligns closely with his career average.
The Giants were among the top teams in the league for deep balls, completing 34 passes over 20 yards last season. Enter Wilson.
Despite his ups and downs with the Steelers, Wilson remains a formidable force for deep throws. He led the NFL in deep ball efficiency last year, completing 54% of his attempts.
This spring, Wilson has become known for his long passes during practice.
“It was fantastic,” Slayton recalled. “His game knowledge shines through. He has an impressive talent for throwing the ball: accurate and with just the right touch on those deep throws. Honestly, I can’t remember him missing many deep balls this camp. His smart decision-making has certainly influenced us as a team.”
