Former Auburn wide receiver unhappy with his contract, Giants general manager says

The New York Giants started their offseason program on Monday, but wide receiver Darius Slayton has not attended. Giants general manager Joe Schoen said on Thursday the former Auburn pass-catcher would like a new contract.

“These are voluntary workouts,” Schoen said when asked about Slayton’s absence. “There’s been players since I’ve been here that haven’t been here, and I understand that. I love Darius. Michael Perrett is his agent. He’s a very good friend of mine. I understand where he’s coming from, and that’s his prerogative to not be here. They are voluntary workouts, so that’s understood.”

Slayton signed a two-year, $12 million contract with New York last year, then had 50 receptions for 770 yards and four touchdowns in 2023 to lead the Giants in receiving yards for the fourth time in his five NFL seasons.

Schoen said understanding where Slayton’s coming from should not be interpreted as working on a new contract.

“We haven’t had conversations about any type of extension,” Schoen said. “… I understand where he’s coming from because I’ve had communication with his agent. That’s all that is. We just signed the deal a little over 12 months ago. It was a two-year deal.”

The yearly average of $6 million puts Slayton’s contract at 39th among NFL wide receivers. The total value of the contract ranks 52nd. His scheduled total pay for the 2024 season of $6.2 million ranks 40th.

Slayton has 220 receptions for 3,324 yards and 19 touchdowns in his five NFL seasons. During Slayton’s time in the NFL, 34 other players have reached those numbers.

Since the Giants chose Slayton at No. 171 in the 2019 NFL Draft, New York has selected three wide receivers from the SEC — Florida’s Kadarius Toney at No. 20 in 2021, Kentucky’s Wan’Dale Robinson at No. 43 in 2022 and Tennessee’s Jalin Hyatt at No. 73 in 2023.

The Giants traded Toney to the Kansas City Chiefs during the 2022 season. Robinson has 83 receptions for 752 yards and two touchdowns in 21 games in two seasons. Hyatt had 23 receptions for 373 yards as a rookie.

New York has six selections in next week’s draft, starting at No. 6. Schoen said adding a top wide receiver would be in consideration after only two teams scored fewer points than the Giants in 2023.

“It can really help you out, especially the way we’re constructed now,” Schoen said. “Jalin Hyatt can take the top off. Wan’Dale working in the slot — I think you can really see what he was able to do late in the season when he was finally healthy. Darius Slayton has been uber consistent during his time.

“Again, if you add another wide receiver there, whether it’s in the top 10 or later in the draft because of the depth of the class, I do think it gives you options, and it’s going to help the offense in general. We have to score more. At the end of the day, we need to score more points. Adding, if it’s a No. 1 receiver, whatever you want to call it, just a better receiving weapon is going to help everybody.”

Even if New York doesn’t take a wide receiver at No. 6 – or doesn’t pick at No. 6 since Schoen said he has been surprised by the number of teams calling to trade up – the general manager thinks it could still get a contributing wide receiver later in draft.

“I do think it’s a deep receiver draft,” Schoen said. “I do think there are — again, they come in different shapes and sizes and speeds, but I do think it’s a deep wide-receiver draft from top to bottom, depending on what you’re looking for.”