‘Greatest Quarterback Ever!’ Giants’ Slayton Reveals Passer Preference

New York Giants receiver Darius Slayton had all the makings of a veteran set to hit free agency and find greener pastures on a better team. He endured league-worst quarterbacking in the final two years of his deal while boasting downfield prowess that could find strong production elsewhere. The Giants went 3-14, with both head coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen on the hot seat – bad news for everyone's job security.

Part of the heat on Schoen came from not trading Slayton at the deadline. In a lost season, contract-year players are expendable, and Slayton was one of two players that seemed to generate real interest.

Schoen, in signing Slayton to a three-year, $36 million deal, made good on his word when he preached continuity at the trade deadline.

But Slayton willingly passed up the opportunity to hit the open market, which includes the chance to land with a more competitive team and a promising quarterback. On Thursday, he said he trusted the team's plan at quarterback and then waxed poetic about free agent passer Aaron Rodgers.

"Personally, I think he is probably the greatest quarterback ever," said New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton, according to John Flanigan of Yahoo Sports.

"I have a ton of respect for him. I know once you get older in this league everyone loves to say you don't really have it anymore, but I think he's shown that he can still spin it. I think we have the tools to make a quarterback like him, or any veteran or rookie successful."

Rodgers, of course, is one of the main candidates to be the Giants' next starting quarterback – a discussion that seems likely to come down to him, Russell Wilson, Joe Flacco, and/or a rookie with the No. 3 pick.

After six seasons of (mostly) Daniel Jones, Slayton could very well be in line for the best quarterbacking of his career. For the first time since Eli Manning, he seems destined to have a passer of historic pedigree on his side.

"I had the pleasure of playing with one my rookie year and I think being able to play with two in a career is definitely not a blessing I could understate," he said.

Slayton safely projects as a starter opposite Malik Nabers in 2025, but with an upgrade under center, there's a real chance New York sees the best version of the veteran it has gotten used to. Tied with defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence for the longest-tenured veterans on the Giants roster, he may be as crucial of a signing off the field as on it.

With the Giants' quarterback situation uncertain, that could come in handy.