New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton has been absent from the team's voluntary offseason workouts while he is seeking an updated contract, he said he is “confident” that there will be a resolution that he can reach with general manager Joe Schoen.
“Right now, my agent [Michael Perrett] and [general manager] Joe [Schoen], they're in negotiations. They're talking,” Darius Slayton said, via Jordan Raanan of ESPN. “Hopefully we'll come to a resolution here soon.”
Slayton appeared at the Gridiron Gala, where he was honored for his work in the community, and it was his first appearance since it was revealed that he was not planning on attending team activities this spring.
Last offseason, Slayton signed a two-year, $12.2 million contract with the Giants, and he is due $6.2 million in the 2024 season before he is scheduled to hit free agency. He has been the Giants' leading receiver in four of the last five seasons and has been a key target for Daniel Jones.
Joe Schoen spoke about Slayton's absence after the NFL Draft, which featured the Giants drafting LSU wide receiver Malik Nabers with the No. 6 pick in the first round.
“We already paid a roster bonus,” Schoen said, via Raanan. “He had one that kicked in the fifth day of the league year, and you look at the P5 [base salary], where that is and you want to look at the production from last year to this year and you take all of those things into account. Us drafting Malik Nabers doesn't affect where we are on that.”
Slayton is in an interesting spot when it comes to his role on the 2024 Giants with Nabers in the fold, along with some other young receivers in that position group. A trade is unlikely, according to Raanan.
What is Darius Slayton's role on the 2024 Giants?
If the Giants had gone in a different direction with the No. 6 pick, it would have made Slayton's role clear as the main pass-catching option for the team. Nabers is likely going to be the focal point of the offense after he was selected so high, and he should be with his explosive play potential.
The interesting part is that the Giants and Schoen have use day two picks on Wan'Dale Robinson and Jalin Hyatt, and Slayton was not drafted by this regime. So that might be something to look back on if Slayton's role is reduced this year.
Still, in recent years Slayton was written off with the Giants, and then went on to become the team's leading receiver. If that happens again this year, it would be a disappointment given the pick that was invested in Nabers.
It will be worth monitoring Slayton's contract status this summer and whether or not he reports to spring practices. He still could be a useful player for New York in 2024.
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