Darius Slayton Embraces Elder Statesman Role on Giants

About a year ago, New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton wasn't in a good place career-wise.

Despite having finished as the Giants team leader in receiving yardage in 2019 (740 yards on 48 receptions, eight touchdowns) and 2020 (751 receiving yards on 50 receptions), Slayton was far from being a lock for the 2022 roster.

To make things easier on himself, he agreed to a pay cut down to the veteran minimum commensurate with his years of experience. His contract was also adjusted to earn back some of what he gave up. And even after doing so to save his roster spot, Slayton was buried so deep on the depth chart that he was a healthy scratch for the team's Week 1 regular-season opener against the Tennessee Titans.

Not one to give up, Slayton kept his head down and kept working at his craft. And as injuries/performance issues began to bite into the Giants top receivers (Kenny Golladay, Sterling Shepard, and Kadarius Toney), Slayton, in having stayed true to his preparation, was ready to step up, going on to finish once again as the team leader in receiving yards with 746 on 46 receptions, good enough to earn him a two-year contract.

These days, Slyton has nothing to worry about as he projects as one of the Gints' top receivers ahead of their regular season opener Sunday night against the Dallas Cowboys.

"Yeah, I think I’m in a positive place, and I think I’ve put together a strong camp," Slayton said Monday. "I worked really hard this offseason to better myself in any way or shape and form I can, and I plan to try to display that to the best of my ability this season."

The adversity he overcame wasn't anything new. In addition to nearly losing his roster spot, Slayton had dealt with assorted injuries that, while not costing him any playing time, clearly affected his abilities. But when faced with the choice of giving up or soldiering on, Slayton chose the latter, taking his experience as a lesson for what might still come. 

"I’m just happy I’m on the other side of it now, and it’ll be a good life experience going forward," he said.

As a veteran receiver, Slayton can impart the wisdom he gained from his experience to his younger teammates, a role he's been only too happy to embrace whether the questions center around where to live or eat or football-related stuff.

"I do my best to help the young guys in any way I can," Slayton said. "Our system is very wordy. Just help them in any way (and) try to give them tips and pointers because we were in the same boat last year when (Head Coach Brian Daboll) Dabs first got here. Even though we were veteran players, you’re learning a whole new system. We have a lot of young, smart guys, so they’re easy students to help."

 As for his personal goals, Slayton has always been about the team first. And if that means he finishes as the leader in receiving yards for the fifth time in the last six years or hits 1,000 yards receiving, it's all part of a year's worth of work for the Giants' 2019 fifth-round draft pick.

"I think my approach is just to make plays when the ball comes my way," he said. "I’ve been fortunate that I’ve been healthy enough and played well enough to lead this team three out of my four years here, but I don’t look at it as, 'Okay, there are better guys here than there were before, so now if I do this it’s more impressive or anything like that.' I think it’s just my job to go out there and make plays, and I do my best every Sunday."

But personal accolades aside, Slayton is more focused on getting ready for the Dallas Cowboys and ensuring he has the right advice for his younger teammates. 

"I think the biggest thing is there’s just a different level of urgency, (and) a different level of attention to detail," he said of his message, a message he himself had to learn.

"During camp, especially for rookies, you’re learning, so it’s not the end of the world if on Tuesday, August 22, in camp, you mess up a play. It’s like whatever, and at the end of the day, it’s just practice, but when a game comes, you can’t have small miscues and things like that against good teams in this league and expect to win. 

"That’s probably the main thing that I try to impress upon them is that this is a different level of intensity, different level of urgency, and you have got to focus, be on top of your assignments, and be ready for the game."