New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton briefly held out this past offseason, hoping to land a long-term contract extension. Those tactics failed and Slayton quickly returned.
Since joining the Giants as a fifth-round pick in the 2019 NFL draft, Slayton has been the team’s most consistent receiver. He’s amassed 259 receptions for 3,897 yards and 21 touchdowns.
However, Slayton’s production and involvement noticeably dipped following the release of quarterback Daniel Jones mid-season. He finished the year with just 39 receptions for 573 yards and two touchdowns.
Those numbers represent career lows for Slayton, except for 2021 when he was limited to just 13 games with five starts.
So, what does the future hold?
Slayton is an impending unrestricted free agent and after opting against a long-term deal last year, it seems likely the Giants will allow him to test the market. And per Spotrac, his projected value is in the range of $15.86 million annually.
Ultimately, Spotrac projects Slayton will sign a two-year, $31,720,872 which would rank as the 22nd most expensive wide receiver contract in the NFL.
Although the Giants will have upwards of $58 million in salary cap space, that’s a hefty price to pay for a WR2 with good blocking skills. It’s more than double Slayton’s average yearly salary over the past two seasons and nearly double his overall cap hit in 2024.
The Giants have many holes, including wide receiver depth, but if that projected value is matched on the free agent market, Slayton may be priced out of the team’s plans.
