EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The New York Giants on Monday released wide receiver Darius Slayton, the longest-tenured player on the team.
Slayton was a fifth-round draft pick of the Giants in 2018, the same year they took Daniel Jones with the No. 6 selection. Slayton had 296 catches for 4,435 yards receiving yards and 22 touchdowns in seven seasons in New York.
The Giants signed Slayton to a three-year, $36 million deal before last season. He was due $13 million this season.
The move creates just over $3 million in cap space for this year.
"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," he posted to X on Monday.
Slayton, 29, had six seasons of at least 500 yards receiving for the Giants. But he found himself out of favor with new coach John Harbaugh this summer after undergoing core muscle surgery in the spring. Slayton started the summer strong but never seemed to quite get his footing in the new offense with a new coaching staff.
The writing was on the wall when the Giants signed wide receiver Darnell Mooney in free agency. They later added Odell Beckham Jr. in the spring.
Harbaugh has said the intention is for Beckham to play. He will be part of the "rotation" and in sub packages. With Malik Nabers eyeing a Week 1 return from his knee injury suffered last season, rookie Malachi Fields impressing and Mooney and Beckham ahead of him on the depth chart, Slayton was left in limbo over the past week.
New York was open to moving him during final cuts, sources told ESPN. The significant salary made a trade difficult.
"You kind of just figure out the league the more you're around," Slayton said last week. "At the end of the day, you control what you can control and let the rest fall where it may."
Slayton is now a free agent. He's not eligible for waivers as a vested veteran and is free to sign elsewhere.
Slayton's career with the Giants had its fair share of ups and downs. He struggled catching the ball during rookie minicamp but quickly found his way onto the field. The Auburn product had 740 yards and a career-best eight touchdowns his rookie season.
But Slayton later found himself buried on the depth chart when coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen took over in 2022. Slayton still eventually worked his way back into the rotation and again became the team's leading receiver that year.
He was the Giants' leading receiver on four occasions (2019, 2020, 2022 and 2023). But he also struggled with drops and inconsistencies, making him a constant target for fans' disgust.
Slayton has 26 drops since entering the league in 2019, tied for 12th most among wide receivers.
