Slayton joins Giants’ OTAs after contract adjusted

Jordan Raanan, ESPN Staff WriterMay 30, 2024, 01:46 PM ET
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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton showed up to voluntary organized team activities this week after having his contract adjusted. He had been staying away from the team’s offseason program while hoping for a new deal.

Slayton now has a chance to earn an additional $650,000 in incentives, according to ESPN’s Field Yates. The Giants’ leading receiver in four of the past five seasons is set to make $6.2 million before incentives this season.

“I’m satisfied. We got done what we needed to get done and just looking forward to playing ball,” Slayton said. “We just adjusted my contract this year a little bit. Just tried to make it a little bit more lucrative. Business is business and I’m here.”

Slayton, 27, re-signed with the Giants prior to the 2023 season. He was originally a fifth-round pick out of Auburn in 2019.

After compiling 50 catches for 774 yards and four touchdowns last season in an offense that struggled badly, Slayton was hoping to be rewarded for being the Giants’ most reliable receiver. The additional incentives, details of which are unknown at this time, were the solution.

It wasn’t ideal but it was enough.

“I think anybody [wants guaranteed money],” Slayton said. “But at the end of the day, playing the game I love, the game I dreamed about playing as a kid. Happy to be back with my teammates and ready to go.”

The veteran wide receiver was confident throughout that something would get worked out between his agent and Giants general manager Joe Schoen. He seemed confident while being honored at the Gridiron Gala last month that he wouldn’t miss significant time.

Slayton stayed away from the start of the Giants offseason program from the start. It began on April 15. His leverage took a hit later in the month when the team took LSU wide receiver Malik Nabers with the No. 6 pick in the draft.

That provided New York with what they hope will be a true No. 1 receiver. The Giants haven’t had a 1,000-yard receiver since Odell Beckham Jr. in 2018.

Slayton has totaled between 724 and 770 yards receiving in four of his five professional seasons. Even after starting the summer buried on the depth chart when the current regime took over, he ended the season as their top receiver.

Slayton is still expected to play a significant role in their offense this season alongside Nabers, 2023 third-rounder Jalin Hyatt and Wan’Dale Robinson.

“Glad Darius is back,” assistant general manager Brandon Brown said. “And when you look at the totality of the message it sends to the locker room, everyone knows there is a difference between the personal and the professional and not blending how you feel about the person. We all love Darius. Sometimes there are disagreements between families and you find a way to find common ground and you move forward. We’re happy that he’s here and we’re happy to keep moving forward with him. He’s back like he never left.”