Giants Players Reflect on Their Journey
It’s a pretty straightforward situation, you know, nice and round numbers. The Giants have had their ups and downs, especially after losing one of their key players, Daniel Jones, before his sixth season with the team.
In that 2019 draft, they picked Jones and Dexter Lawrence in the first round, along with Darius Slayton in the fifth. Since then, well, things haven’t been great—certainly a lot more lows than highs.
Between Lawrence and Slayton, the team has experienced quite a few losses. In fact, during their time, the Giants have managed just 100 wins over six seasons.
After a recent training camp practice, they were asked multiple times how many of those 100 games resulted in a win. The answer? Only 32. To put it plainly, they’ve struggled—32 wins against 67 losses and a tie.
“That just shows we weren’t very good,” Slayton mentioned to reporters. “Those are just the past numbers. I’m hoping that if I’m fortunate enough to be around for six more years, we can flip that record.” His outlook is a mix of realism and optimism.
No one else on the roster has been through the same challenges that Lawrence and Slayton have faced. While neither is particularly old—Slayton is 28, and Lawrence is 27—they seem a bit weary from all the tough seasons. Still, there’s a spark of hope in their eyes.
After facing yet another loss, Slayton feels he understands the shifts within the franchise more than most players. “I think so, in a selfish way,” he reflected. “It means a lot to me.” They chose to stay with the team that drafted them, even when it might have been easier to explore other options.
Four years into their careers, it became clear that securing Lawrence long-term was essential for the Giants. Back in May 2023, he signed a substantial four-year, $90 million extension to keep him with the team until at least 2027.
For Slayton, his sixth season could have easily been his last after a tough 3-14 year, both he and the team feeling at a crossroads. Yet he opted for a three-year, $36 million deal, asserting he wouldn’t have done so if he viewed the Giants as a dead-end.
Staying with a team that’s in constant flux—with three coaches in the last six years—can be daunting. “For Dex, that’s just how he is,” Slayton stated about Lawrence’s resilience. “He’s big, strong, and fast. I might be faster, but not as strong.” It’s a lighthearted note amidst serious discussions.
Lawrence is encouraged by the growing voices on defense and a greater acceptance of roles within the team. “If you’re special, you’re special,” he said. “Everyone plays a part, and we all need to thrive in our roles—it’s essential for the team’s success.”
Reflecting on his time with the Giants, Slayton described it as “A Good Six Years,” with both he and Lawrence playing in 92 regular-season games together.
“I’ve invested my entire career here. Most of my adult life has been dedicated to New Jersey and New York,” Slayton shared. His sentiments reveal a deeper connection to the franchise.
Finally, he talked about the Giants’ resurgence. “It’s not just about hope anymore,” Slayton said. “When you have the ability to achieve something, it’s about belief and action—getting out there and making it happen.” It’s a call to arms, a challenge to transform hope into reality.
