Teammates talking in tiny boxes. His ather and sister throwing tennis balls at him. A fifth-grade rival resurfacing. Eli Manning tweeting. It has been a weird first NFL offseason for Darius Slayton.
Coming off a breakout 2019 campaign, one in which he tied for the NFL rookie lead in touchdown catches, the wide receiver entered the offseason with what every player and team want: momentum. Then 2020 happened. The coronavirus pandemic forced everyone to adjust, including those in the corner of the sports world.
Slayton did what many 23-year-olds around the country did and moved in with his parents. In his case, home is Atlanta. In between virtual sessions of the Giants' offseason program, which included the installation of a new offense, Slayton spent the initial stages of quarantine training with his father, Eddie, and sister, Maileka. One of the drills focused on hand-eye coordination with the use of tennis balls.
They got into it – but not everyone is exactly a world-class athlete.
"Some of (the drills), your partner also has to be a pretty coordinated individual," Slayton said in an interview with Giants.com. "That was a little tricky doing that with my sister and dad. They're OK coordinated, but definitely some of that stuff is just about tracking the ball, catching it. It's smaller than a football, so if you catch something that small coming fast, a football is like nothing."
At times, he made it look that easy as a rookie.
His eight touchdowns are tied for the third-most by a rookie in franchise history, two behind Bill Swiacki (1948) and four off Odell Beckham Jr.'s record set in 2014. He also ranks fifth in receiving yards and is tied for sixth in catches in Giants rookie annals.
League-wide, Slayton, who missed the first two weeks because of a hamstring injury, was part of one of the most prolific wide receiver classes. Five rookies recorded at least seven touchdown receptions in 2019: Slayton, Tennessee's A.J. Brown (eight), Baltimore's Marquise Brown (seven), Washington's Terry McLaurin (seven) and Seattle's DK Metcalf (seven). In total, rookies combined for 110 touchdown receptions in 2019 and surpassed 2014 (109 touchdown catches) for the most combined touchdown receptions by rookies in a single season since 1970.
Still, Slayton said his goal heading into Year 2 is "playing with a tremendous amount of confidence." At this time last year, he was working to erase the first impression he gave at rookie minicamp, where he couldn't catch a football, let alone a tennis ball.
"My confidence is something that built as the year went on last year," said Slayton, who caught five of his eight touchdowns and had both of his 100-yard games (121 yards at Jets and 154 at Philadelphia) in the second half of the season. "Hopefully this year, I'll be able to hit it Week 1 running. It's mostly internal. It's just all in your head to me. Especially for receivers, to get the ball you've got to catch it, catch it low, high, behind you. I think it just starts from having unwavering faith in your hands basically."
That's where the tennis balls come into play. Slayton said he picked up some of his daily drills from his college career at Auburn and watching videos of Jerry Rice and DeAndre Hopkins.
While it helps, it's no substitute for the live reps that the entire league has missed this spring.
"You just start to feel the need for it," Slayton said. "Even with fans, I think you start to feel the need for it after a while. So my body is itching to get back out there, itching to compete and just trying to see and meet my teammates in the flesh and be able to hang out with them again – all those things that come with it."
To help scratch the itch, Slayton and a handful of Giants skill players recently worked out in Texas with Daniel Jones, another promising sophomore. Jones led all rookies in touchdown passes in 2019.
"[The chemistry] is growing. Right now we're working on him consistently answering the phone," Slayton joked. "That's kind of the next step in our relationship. He's gotten better. I know he's working hard. I'm working hard where I am, and I know we're both ready to be back together [at the facility]."
Meanwhile, his old quarterback has plenty of time for phones. Eli Manning, who retired in January, joined Twitter in May and gives tours of his home gym to pass the days.
"Honestly, I didn't believe it at first," Slayton said. "I kind of saw somebody tweet about Eli Manning made a Twitter [account], and I was like, 'Yeah right.' Then I saw the account and I was still like, 'No shot. It's some parody, whatever.' Then I went to it and I saw it was verified and I was like, 'Whoa, it's actually [him].' Then I read his first two tweets and I was like, 'Yeah, it's actually him. He would write that.'"
Manning isn't the only one Slayton tracks on Twitter. Chris Williamson, a defensive back drafted by the Giants in the seventh round out of Minnesota, has a longstanding rivalry with Slayton. They went to elementary school together in the Atlanta area but played on different youth teams.
"It was kind of an interesting dynamic there," Slayton said. "Good dude. He's always been a good dude. Every time I've seen him it's always been nothing but love. It's crazy. When we drafted him, I think we had turned the draft off [in our house]. Then we had turned it back on for some reason and then his name came up and then it was the Giants and my parents, my sister, everybody in the house freaked out. They're like, 'No way – Chris.' So it was really exciting when he got drafted. It'll cool to be teammates now, to be on the same side."
Slayton recalled the story of his first run-in with Williamson.
"I was always fast as a child," he said. "When I came to the elementary school, I was the new kid finding my way and all that type of stuff. At the time, Chris was the fastest kid in fifth grade. So obviously, me always having been the fastest, I was like, 'I've got to race him.' And I will say at that point in our lives, he did beat me and it was a humbling experience, to say the least. Back then, my running form was pretty bad, and Chris ran track from that age up. So he already had a very smooth form, smooth stride. It was pretty embarrassing."
As for today, Slayton said he would "blow his doors off" in a race.
Speaking of doors, Williamson hasn't forgotten the white stretched-out Hummer limousines that Slayton and his team arrived in when they squared off in the Gwinnett Football League championship game. Slayton's team was obviously confident, having mercy ruled Williamson's squad, 34-0, in the regular season.
In the rematch for the title of one of the top youth football leagues in Georgia, Williamson's side got revenge and shut out Slayton's by a score of 14-0.
"I mean, I know it had to be kind of embarrassing pulling up in a limousine and losing," Williamson said shortly after the draft. "But you know, it's something I still hold over Darius to this day."
Williamson added, "I don't even think they rode the limos home."
View the best images from Darius Slayton's breakout 2019 campaign
New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (86) makes a touchdown catch against Minnesota Vikings cornerback Xavier Rhodes (29) during the second quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Giants' Darius Slayton runs past New York Jets' Marcus Maye (20) for a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Steven Ryan)
New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (86) makes a catch during an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles Monday December 9th, 2019 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus via AP)
New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton looks on while working out prior to an NFL football game against the Washington Redskins, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2019, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Mark Tenally)
New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (86) catches a pass in the end zone to score a touchdown against the Miami Dolphins during the third quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning (10) celebrates with wide receiver Darius Slayton (86) after leading his team to score a touchdown during an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Monday, Dec. 9, 2019, in Philadelphia. The Eagles defeated the Giants in overtime, 23-17. (Ryan Kang via AP)
New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (86) catches the football on his way to scoring a touchdown during an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Monday, Dec. 9, 2019, in Philadelphia. The Eagles defeated the Giants in overtime, 23-17. (Ryan Kang via AP)
New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (86) runs onto the field during warmups prior to an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Monday, Dec. 9, 2019, in Philadelphia. The Eagles defeated the Giants in overtime, 23-17. (Ryan Kang via AP)
New York Giants' Darius Slayton (86) stiff-arms Philadelphia Eagles' Ronald Darby (21) to score a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Dec. 9, 2019, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Michael Perez)
New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (86) scores a touchdown in the second half of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Giants' Darius Slayton scores a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Monday, Dec. 9, 2019, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
New York Giants' Darius Slayton reacts after scoring a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Monday, Dec. 9, 2019, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
New York Giants' Darius Slayton (86) runs to score a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Monday, Dec. 9, 2019, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Michael Perez)
New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (86) is stopped by Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Rasul Douglas (32) and Eagles outside linebacker Nigel Bradham (53) in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2019, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (86) reacts after scoring a touchdown against the Miami Dolphins during the third quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
New York Giants' Darius Slayton, left, runs past Philadelphia Eagles' Ronald Darby to score a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Dec. 9, 2019, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Michael Perez)
New York Giants' Darius Slayton, left, and Saquon Barkley celebrate after Slayton scored a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Monday, Dec. 9, 2019, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Michael Perez)
New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (86) celebrates with quarterback Eli Manning (10) and other teammates after scoring a touchdown against the Miami Dolphins during the third quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
New York Giants' Darius Slayton (86) runs to score a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Monday, Dec. 9, 2019, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Michael Perez)
New York Giants' Darius Slayton (86) stiff-arms Philadelphia Eagles' Ronald Darby (21) to score a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Dec. 9, 2019, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Michael Perez)
New York Giants' Darius Slayton (86) breaks free from Philadelphia Eagles' Ronald Darby (21) to score a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Dec. 9, 2019, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Michael Perez)
New York Giants' Darius Slayton, right, and Sterling Shepard celebrate after a touchdown by Slayton during the first half of an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Monday, Dec. 9, 2019, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
New York Giants' Darius Slayton scores a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Monday, Dec. 9, 2019, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
New York Giants' Darius Slayton, right, runs with the ball during the second half of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (86) runs after a catch during an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (86) runs during an NFL game against the Chicago Bears, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2019 in Chicago. The Bears defeated the Colts 19-14. (Greg Trott via AP)
New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (86) runs in front of Chicago Bears cornerback Prince Amukamara (20) after a catch during the first half of an NFL football game in Chicago, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2019. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (86) runs for yardage after a catch during an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Sunday Nov. 10, 2019 in East Rutherford, N.J. The Jets defeated the Giants 34-27. (Damian Strohmeyer via AP)
Green Bay Packers cornerback Kevin King (20) covers New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (86) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019, in East Rutherford, N.J. The Green Bay Packers won 31-13. (AP Photo/Steve Luciano)
New York Giants wide receiver Darius Skayton (86) scores a touchdown while defended by New York Jets safety Matthias Farley (41) during an NFL football game Sunday Nov. 10, 2019 in East Rutherford, N.J. The Jets defeated the Giants 34-27. (Damian Strohmeyer via AP)
New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (86) poses for a portrait during the NFLPA Rookie Premiere on Saturday, May 18, 2019 in Pasadena, Calif. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
New York Giants' Saquon Barkley (26) celebrates with Darius Slayton (86) after Slayton scored a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Steven Ryan)
New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (86) makes a touchdown catch against Minnesota Vikings cornerback Xavier Rhodes (29) during the second quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (86) celebrates withrunning back Elijhaa Penny (39) after scoring a touchdown against the Minnesota Vikings during the second quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton, right, runs away from New York Jets' Nate Hairston for a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (8) celebrates his touchdown throw to New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (86) during an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions in Detroit, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2019. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (86) catches a pass during an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Monday, Nov. 4, 2019 in East Rutherford, N.J. The Cowboys defeated the Giants 37-18. (Joe Robbins via AP)
New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (86) catches a touchdown pass against Detroit Lions defensive back Rashaan Melvin (29) during an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2019 in Detroit. The Lions defeated the Giants 31-26. (Joe Robbins via AP)
New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (8) celebrates his touchdown run against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with wide receiver Darius Slayton (86) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 22, 2019, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark LoMoglio)
New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (86) warms up before an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Monday, Nov. 4, 2019, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (86) poses for a portrait during the NFLPA Rookie Premiere on Saturday, May 18, 2019 in Pasadena, Calif. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (86) poses for a portrait during the NFLPA Rookie Premiere on Saturday, May 18, 2019 in Pasadena, Calif. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (86) poses for a portrait during the NFLPA Rookie Premiere on Saturday, May 18, 2019 in Pasadena, Calif. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (86) makes a touchdown catch against Minnesota Vikings cornerback Xavier Rhodes (29) during the second quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (86) poses for a portrait during the NFLPA Rookie Premiere on Saturday, May 18, 2019 in Pasadena, Calif. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (86) poses for a portrait during the NFLPA Rookie Premiere on Saturday, May 18, 2019 in Pasadena, Calif. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (86) runs the ball against the Detroit Lions during an NFL football game in Detroit, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2019. (AP Images/Rick Osentoski)
New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (86), defended by Detroit Lions cornerback Rashaan Melvin (29), catches a 28-yard pass for a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2019, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Detroit Lions defensive back Miles Killebrew (35) grabs New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (86) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2019, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)
New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (86) makes a touchdown catch during an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings Sunday October 6, 2019 in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus via AP)
New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (86) is tackled by Detroit Lions cornerback Rashaan Melvin after a 22-yard pass reception for a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2019, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)
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