EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Darius Slayton grew up in Atlanta. He was a high school star in nearby Norcross. Slayton trains in that area in the offseason. So, when Slayton officially became a free agent last week and the Atlanta Falcons initiated a dialogue, it seemed logical he might continue his NFL career in his native state.
But Slayton had other ideas and re-signed with the Giants, who drafted him in 2019 and with whom he spent his first four pro seasons.
"Atlanta is where I'm from," Slayton said on a Zoom call with reporters. "It's where my parents live. It's close to where a lot of my family lives. One of my best friends was a free agent; he just got signed by Atlanta. So, I had a lot of – I guess you could say – reason to want to be there or to want to go there. First of all, free agency, it's got to be mutual, which I think they had interest in me, which they expressed. But ultimately, I think the best football decision for me was being back here with Daniel (Jones) and continuing to grow with him in (coordinator Mike) Kafka's offense."
Jones and Slayton were each members of the 2019 draft class. Slayton has caught more Jones passes (155, including the playoffs) for more yards (2,290) than any other receiver. They have developed a strong partnership on the field and friendship off it. Slayton has said they've grown up together in the NFL.
Two weeks ago, Jones signed a new four-year contract. His return was clearly an allure for Slayton to do the same.
"I might've been more happy for his deal than my own deal, honestly," Slayton said. "Just because I've been here for everything that it's taken for him to get here and kind of seen the way that people viewed him before and the way they view him now. Anybody who follows me on Twitter knows Daniel Jones slander is not being tolerated on my timeline. That'll be that way probably until the day I die. So, I'm extremely happy for him. And I'm just glad he was able to get his deal."
View the best photos of wide receiver Darius Slayton's time with the Giants.
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New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (86) during a game against the Washington Commanders on Sunday December 4, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Jerry Pinkus/ New York Giants)
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New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (86)
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New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (86) during a game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday December 11, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Jerry Pinkus/ New York Giants)
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New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (86) signals first down during a football game against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday October 30, 2022 in Seattle, Washington (Evan Pinkus/NY Giants)
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New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (86) during a NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Saturday December 24, 2022 in Minneapolis, Minnesota (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
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New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (86) during a NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Saturday December 24, 2022 in Minneapolis, Minnesota (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
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New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (86) makes a catch during a football game against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday October 30, 2022 in Seattle, Washington (Evan Pinkus/NY Giants)
New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (8) celebrates a touchdown run with wide receiver Darius Slayton (86) during a football game against the Chicago Bears on Sunday October 2, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus/NY Giants)
New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (8) celebrates a touchdown run with wide receiver Darius Slayton (86) during a football game against the Chicago Bears on Sunday October 2, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus/NY Giants)
New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (86) during a NFL football game against the Houston Texans, Sunday November 14, 2022 in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (86) during a week 3 football game against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday September 26th, 2021 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (86) makes a catch during a NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday November 21, 2022 in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (86) during a preseason game against the New England Patriots on Sunday August 29th, 2021 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (86) makes a catch during a NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday November 21, 2022 in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (86) catches a touchdown pass during a week 18 football game against the Washington Football Team on Sunday January 9th, 2021 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (86) signals first down during a week 18 football game against the Washington Football Team on Sunday January 9th, 2021 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (86) scores a touchdown during a NFL football game against the Houston Texans, Sunday November 14, 2022 in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (86) during a NFL wild card playoff game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday January 15, 2023 in Minneapolis, Minnesota (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (86) scores a touchdown during a NFL football game against the Houston Texans, Sunday November 14, 2022 in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (86) during a NFL wild card playoff game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday January 15, 2023 in Minneapolis, Minnesota (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (86) during a NFL football game against the Washington Commanders, Sunday December 4, 2022 in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (86) gets introduced before a football game against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday October 16, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus/NY Giants)
New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (86) gets introduced before a football game against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday October 16, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus/NY Giants)
New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (86) makes a catch during a week 15 regular season football game against the Cleveland Browns at MetLife Stadium on December 20th, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (86) during a week 7 football game against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday October 24th, 2021 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (86) during a week 14 regular season football game against the Arizona Cardinals at MetLife Stadium on December 13th, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (86) during a NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers, Sunday October 9, 2022 in Tottenham Hotspur Stadium Credit Evan/New York Giants
New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (86) during a NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers, Sunday October 9, 2022 in Tottenham Hotspur Stadium Credit Evan/New York Giants
New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (86) signals first down during a week 14 regular season football game against the Arizona Cardinals at MetLife Stadium on December 13th, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
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The New York Giants take on the Baltimore Ravens at Metlife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ on Sunday October 16, 2022. (Ben Solomon/New York Giants)
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New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (86) takes part in a week 7 regular season game against the Arizona Cardinals at MetLife Stadium on Sunday October 20th, 2019 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
WR Darius Slayton (86) at New York Giants Training Camp 2019 at Quest Diagnostics Training Center in East Rutherford, NJ
New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (86) takes part in a week 8 regular season game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on Sunday October 27th, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan
New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (86) scores a touchdown in a week 10 regular season game against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on Sunday November 10th, 2019 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (86) takes part in a week 12 regular season game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Sunday November 24th, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois
New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (86) takes part in a week 3 regular season game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on Sunday September 22, 2019 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (86) scores touchdown during a week 14 regular season Monday Night Football game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on Monday December 9th, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (86) makes a catch during a week 13 regular season game against the Green Bay Packers at MetLife Stadium on Sunday December 1st, 2019 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (86) during a week 14 regular season Monday Night Football game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on Monday December 9th, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (86) takes part in a week 3 regular season game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on Sunday September 22, 2019 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (86) during a week 14 regular season Monday Night Football game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on Monday December 9th, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (86) scores a touchdown in a week 10 regular season game against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on Sunday November 10th, 2019 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (86) catches a touchdown pass in a week 10 regular season game against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on Sunday November 10th, 2019 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (86) catches a touchdown pass during a week 8 regular season game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on Sunday October 27th, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan
The Giants have worked hard this offseason to give Jones an assortment of productive targets. They re-signed Isaiah Hodgins, Sterling Shepard (who missed most of the 2022 season with a torn ACL) and Slayton. Last week, they acquired free agent wideouts Parris Campbell and Jeff Smith and traded for former Pro Bowl tight end Darren Waller, who caught 107 passes in 2020, his last fully healthy season.
"It would've been kind of crazy to leave after somewhat building all these bricks, and as soon as we get the thing build, just jump off the top," Slayton said. "Would've been kind of crazy. But I definitely wanted to stick around and be at the top and take in the view myself. I think just some of the guys we've been able to sign and go get, it's a testament to what we've been able to build here and what Kaf and Dabs (head coach Brian Daboll) and those guys have been able to bring to us.
"We got a lot of guys that can fly, a lot of guys that can play. I think that's only going to help our team. It's only going to make us better. It's only going to make the competition around here better. So, I'm looking forward to OTAs and camp and getting a chance to compete alongside these guys."
The 2022 season started slowly for Slayton. He was inactive in Week 1, was not targeted in either of the next two games and caught just one pass in the fourth game, against Chicago on Oct. 2. But the following week he caught a season-high six passes in a victory against Green Bay in London (a figure he tied against Washington on Dec. 4, when he had a season-best 90 yards).
Slayton finished the season with a team-high 724 yards on 46 receptions. He scored two touchdowns. With 740 yards as a rookie, 751 in 2020 and 720 last season, Slayton became just the second Giants player to lead the team in receiving yards in three of his first four seasons. The only other player to do it was Odell Beckham, Jr.
With free agency beckoning, Slayton was a candidate to be wearing a different uniform this year.
"We had multiple teams that were interested," Slayton said. "This is really a pretty weird free agency year. Teams really weren't just throwing around money kind of like in other years. But we had a few teams that were interested that I probably could've went with, but ultimately the Giants, when they got D.J. back – obviously because the quarterback is a pretty big piece of being a receiver – but just the familiarity here, with Dabs, and Kaf and (general manager) Joe (Schoen) are building here and some of the guys they acquired, I just felt like this would be the best place for me to go. And obviously, I'm comfortable. I enjoy being here. I enjoy the people here. So, it was easy to come back.
"I just think in general in life, I try not to bring emotion into things that aren't emotional. And football is not emotional. Either you go out there and you make plays and the people that make the decisions play the people who make plays, or you don't. So, at the end of the day when it comes to football or anything like that, I tend to point the thumb and not the finger and look at what I can do better – what have I done to put myself in whatever situation? And sometimes in life, you do everything you're supposed to do, and you end up getting screwed over. But I'd be lying if I said I didn't somewhat contribute to my situation last year. And at the end of the day, I have to take responsibility for that and do better."
Slayton has played in 59 regular-season games with 40 starts and started both postseason games in which he played. His regular-season totals include 170 receptions for 2,554 yards (15.0-yard avg.) and 15 touchdowns with a long catch of 55 yards. In the 2022 playoffs, he had five receptions for 92 yards (18.4-yard avg.) and one rushing attempt for 3 yards.
Now he has an opportunity to build on those numbers and continue contributing to the Giants' resurgence.
"I've built a relationship with a lot of guys around here – a lot of people in this building," Slayton said. "Even today, there's been a lot of hugs and smiling faces. That's definitely something that I knew would be here if I came back here. I definitely aspire to be a great player for this franchise."
View photos of every move made by the Giants during the 2023 offseason.
C John Michael Schmitz - Selection List Signing (May 23)
DL Dexter Lawrence - Signed, Renegotiated Contract (May 5)
OLB Oshane Ximines - Free Agent Signing (May 5)
OLB Habakkuk Baldonado - Free Agent Signing (May 5)
LB Troy Brown - Free Agent Signing (May 5)
DB Alex Cook - Free Agent Signing (May 5)
QB Tommy DeVito - Free Agent Signing (May 5)
WR Bryce Ford-Wheaton - Free Agent Signing (May 5)
DB Gemon Green - Free Agent Signing (May 5)
LB Dyontae Johnson - Free Agent Signing (May 5)
TE Ryan Jones - Free Agent Signing (May 5)
LS Cameron Lyons - Free Agent Signing (May 5)
CB Deonte Banks - Selected in Round 1 (Pick No. 24) of 2023 NFL Draft
CB Deonte Banks - Selection List Signing (May 18)
OL John Michael Schmitz - Selected in Round 2 (Pick No. 57) of 2023 NFL Draft
WR Jalin Hyatt - Selected in Round 3 (Pick No. 73) of 2023 NFL Draft
WR Jalin Hyatt - Selection List Signing (May 15)
RB Eric Gray - Selected in Round 5 (Pick No. 172) of 2023 NFL Draft
RB Eric Gray - Selection List Signing (May 5)
CB Tre Hawkins III - Selected in Round 6 (Pick No. 209) of 2023 NFL Draft
CB Tre Hawkins III - Selection List Signing (May 5)
DL Jordon Riley - Selected in Round 7 (Pick No. 243) of 2023 NFL Draft
DL Jordan Riley - Selection List Signing (May 6)
DB Gervarrius Owens - Selected in Round 7 (Pick No. 254) of 2023 NFL Draft
DB Gervarrius Owens - Selection List Signing (May 5)
DT A'Shawn Robinson - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (April 24)
C J.C. Hassenauer - Free Agent Signing (April 7)
OLB Jihad Ward - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 29)
TE Tommy Sweeney - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 23)
CB Amani Oruwariye - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 23)
WR Jamison Crowder - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 23)
S Bobby McCain - Free Agent Signing (March 23)
CB Leonard Johnson - Free Agent Signing (March 20)
WR Darius Slayton - Free Agent Signing (March 20)
DT Rakeem Nunez-Roches - Free Agent Signing (March 17)
WR Parris Campbell - Free Agent Signing (March 17)
WR Jeff Smith - Free Agent Signing (March 17)
LB Bobby Okereke - Free Agent Signing (March 16)
WR Sterling Shepard - Free Agent Signing (March 15)
TE Darren Waller - Acquired via trade with Las Vegas Raiders (March 15)
RB Matt Breida - Signed, Renegotiated Contract (March 14)
P Jamie Gillan - Signed, Renegotiated Contract (March 13)
LS Casey Kreiter - Signed, Renegotiated Contract (March 13)
G Wyatt Davis - Signed, Renegotiated Contract (March 13)
QB Daniel Jones - Signed, Renegotiated Contract (March 7)
RB Saquon Barkley - Designated Franchise Player (March 7)
LB Jarrad Davis - Signed, Renegotiated Contract (March 7)
WR Isaiah Hodgins - Signed, Exclusive Rights (February 16)
G Jack Anderson - Signed, Exclusive Rights (February 14)
TE Lawrence Cager - Signed, Exclusive Rights (February 13)
WR David Sills V - Reserve/Future Signing (January 26)
DB Terrell Burgess - Reserve/Future Signing (January 26)
TE Chris Myarick - Reserve/Future Signing (January 23)
T Devery Hamilton - Reserve/Future Signing (January 22)
WR Dre Miller - Reserve/Future Signing (January 22)
DB Zyon Gilbert - Reserve/Future Signing (January 22)
DT Vernon Butler - Reserve/Future Signing (January 22)
WR Makai Polk - Reserve/Future Signing (January 22)
T Korey Cunningham - Reserve/Future Signing (January 22)
WR Jaydon Mickens - Reserve/Future Signing (January 22)
WR Kalil Pimpleton - Reserve/Future Signing (January 22)
RB Jashaun Corbin - Reserve/Future Signing (January 22)
DB Trenton Thompson - Reserve/Future Signing (January 22)
DB Terrell Burgess - Waived/Injured (May 5)
G Solomon Kindley - Waived
WR Kenny Golladay - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (March 15)
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