Longtime New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton expressed gratitude and class in the wake of his unexpected release. The team announced on Monday that they had released Slayton, their longest-tenured player, ahead of the season opener against the Dallas Cowboys.
The veteran wideout had survived the initial cut to the 53-man roster, only to be let go as the team finalized its Week 1 plans. Slayton had been with the Giants since he was selected in the fifth round of the 2018 draft, forming a core part of the wide receiver rotation for seven years.
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The Giants resorted to cutting Darius Slayton amid salary cap considerations, saving the franchise a modest amount and creating flexibility. Shortly after the news of his release broke, Slayton took to social media with a measured and appreciated message to the franchise.
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“Grateful for my time in NY. 7 years a Giant nothing but love for one of the most prestigious organizations in the NFL. Excited to see what’s next 🙏🏾,” Slayton wrote on X.
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Slayton’s short appreciative message to the Giants stood out for its tone. In an era when roster cuts, especially for veterans, often prompt frustration or deafening silence, the wide receiver chose to highlight the positives of his tenure in New York rather than dwell on the abrupt end.
In his seven seasons with the Giants, Darius Slayton recorded 296 receptions for 4,435 yards and 22 touchdowns across 106 games. In six of those seasons, he recorded more than 500 receiving yards, with 2021, when he started just five games, being the only exception.
Analyst perplexed by Darius Slayton’s release
The “New York Giants Straight Talks” podcast host, who’s known by just his first name Tim, can’t wrap his head around the team’s decision to release Darius Slayton. Citing the salary cap savings and the Giants’ wide receiver depth chart, he struggles to understand the move.
“The Giants have released Darius Slayton, which is kind of a perplexing move, if you think about it,” Tim said. “Because you’re only saving three and you’re eating 12. And currently, you only have four active wide receivers on your roster, and one of them, Malik Nabers, has not yet been cleared to play.
“So you’re going to be relying on a 33-year-old Odell Beckham Jr. You’re probably going to move Braxton Berrios back on, off the practice squad, back on to the active roster. It would have made more sense to try to trade him.”
As a vested veteran, Slayton is free to sign with any team immediately. According to reports, three NFL teams have already reached out to the wide receiver to explore the possibility of signing him. His experience and familiarity with the league were expected to garner interest in him.
Edited by Farouk Yusuf
