You don't have to be a fortune teller to see future headlines now. Only Giants fans familiar with Murphy's Law.
“Free agent base stealer Darius Slayton has his first 1,000-yard season in his career since leaving the Giants.''
Even if things weren't too bad at home at 2-10 on the season, the former Giant looks like he's excelling somewhere in any window of NFL television.
Eagles' Saquon Barkley threatens to break the NFL's single-season rushing record, Packers' Xavier McKinnie leads the league in interceptions, and Julian Love plays at a “defensive player of the year” level with Leonard Williams trailing both players. I just said that I am doing it. Evan Engram, Ben Bredeson, Jabrill Peppers and others made big plays in the Seahawks' win over the Jets at MetLife Stadium. to a lesser extent.
“They're all really good football players, so obviously they're going to make plays,” Slayton said after Monday's practice. “But we have a lot of talented football players in this building. If we can get everyone to play to the level they can at the same time, we'll be fine.”
Slayton teamed with all of these players for six seasons, tying him with Dexter Lawrence for the longest tenure with the Giants. Couldn't he expect better results than his 31-63-1 record since 2019 with various combinations of these players?
“You would think so,” Slayton said. “For some reason, it didn't work. We have to find a way to make it work with what we have here.”
It was the reaction of a diplomatic leader from Slayton, who may only have five games left in his tenure with the Giants.
He tried to take advantage of his new contract with the Giants by sitting out spring training, but ultimately settled for an incentive increase that was unattainable in the NFL's second-to-last ranks before heading into free agency for the second time. are. Passing violation.
It's easy to imagine that an analytical NFL front office with a big-play-oriented quarterback still sees Slayton as having limitations. He ranks fifth among active receivers behind AJ Brown, Mike Williams, Mike Evans and Justin Jefferson with 15 yards per catch in his career.
“I think I've improved every time I've been in the NFL,” Slayton said. “I believe that after every season, I put in the offseason work and come back a better version of myself in Year 7. So regardless of the team situation or whatever, it's something I personally It's something I'm proud of.”
One of the reasons Slayton returned to the Giants on a two-year, $12 million deal in 2023 was the appeal of maintaining chemistry with fellow 2019 draftee and close friend Daniel Jones.
Either way, having to learn the tendencies of a new quarterback seems to level the playing field.
The receiver market also skyrocketed last offseason as players with similar careers to Slayton, Gabe Davis (Jaguars) and Darnell Mooney (Falcons), signed matching three-year, $39 million contracts. .
Slayton's value to the Giants this season includes helping teach rookie Malik Nabors complex offensive schemes for receivers during the week and helping him make adjustments on the field.
“He did everything we asked him to do,” head coach Brian Daboll said.
A paragon of consistency, Slayton is on pace to make 46-50 catches for the fifth time, just shy of his career average of 744 receiving yards in 17 games.
He has said in the past that it is “not to the extent that I think it reflects my ability.”
Slayton has played for nine different quarterbacks, under three head coaches, five offensive play callers, and three position coaches, but is ranked higher than 18th overall in the league. He had never played in a strong offense. Old problems have resurfaced as he dropped seven innings, down from a career-low three innings last season.
“No matter how the season goes numbers-wise, I'm going to judge myself based on the standard of play,” Slayton said. “And I've been able to steadily improve that since turning pro.”
Whether Giants teammates will cheer on Slayton from afar — perhaps when Jalin Hyatt takes over — or be part of the rebuild in 2025 is an important little-known question that should be answered this offseason. This is one of the most important questions.
“We're all happy for our former teammates and friends in the locker room,” linebacker Micah McFadden said. “But yeah, it's hard to see that. Of course we would have liked to have everything wrapped up while everyone was here.”
