His absence from OTAs was one we already knew was coming, but Schoen has also made it known he does not want to give him a new deal after giving him one just a year ago. The WR group also has been redone under Schoen/Daboll with Nabers, Hyatt, and Robinson. Throw in Hodgins and possibly Allen Robinson or Isaiah Mckenzie as the depth.
If the talks have reached an impasse what can the Giants get? The only noteworthy recent WR trade to set a benchmark, would be Stefon Diggs fetching a 2025 2nd round pick, and although he's a better player, he's 3.5 years older (Slayton just turned 27, Diggs will be 31 during the season).
In terms of cap space saved, waiting until after June 1st might make sense. Unlike a cut/retirement they I don't believe they can make a trade designated as post June 1 - once he is moved it takes effect (correct me if I'm wrong there). Doing it before saves them $3.8M but waiting a week would be $6.4M with the difference moving to next season. The new team would only be on the hook for $2.5M for this year, but presumably a new deal would be in the works before the trade, but that's a great starting point.
Slayton has been a consistent 700+ yard receiver for the Giants. That is pretty great value for a 5th round pick and could probably be even better with more help. It would suck to lose him with what appears to be a WR room with some depth for the first time in a long time, but it happens. Maybe Waller finally announces retirement and they give Slayton more money. Until then I wonder if they could get a Toney-like deal or would it just be a day 3 lottery ticket?
Bottom line he's nothing special.
He ain't worth more than he's getting paid now.
I'll redeposite the numbers for you -
https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2023/receiving.htm
16th in Yards/reception - 15.5 (better than Tyreek Hill, Deebo Samuel, Puka Nacua, DeVonta Smith, etc), that's just ONE of the stats you mentioned.
About contending teams; If I'm sitting there with a good QB that needs a deep threat (whose O-line gives him time to make the long throws), I'd have NO problem offering the Giants a #3 pick). Under the right circumstances he's a top 20 or 30 receiver, for sure a legit "No. 2"
A trade that's an OK comparison is Donovan Peoples-Jones, who was traded for a 6th at the deadline after falling in the depth chart. Slayton is a better player than DPJ, so I wouldn't be surprised if he could fetch a 5th either at the end of camp or near the deadline from a team in need of a WR.
RE: production, I think a lot of fans have a misperception of what number 2 receivers produce in the NFL. Only 8 teams had a number 2 receiver produce more than the 770 yards Slayton had last year. And each of them had a 1,000 across from them.
I think we're all assuming Nabers will be the no. 1 guy next year. If the no. 2 guy produces like Slayton, he'll likely be a top 10 2nd option.
If that guys is Hyatt, awesome. If that guys is Slayton, awesome. What we know is who Slayton is, and the Giants are betting Hyatt can be that guy.
Darius Slayton (79, 770)
Chris Godwin (130, 1024)
Deebo Samuel (89, 892)
Tyler Lockett (122, 894)
DeVonta Smith (112, 1066)
Jordan Addison (108, 911)
Christian Kirk (85, 787)
Jakobi Meyers (106, 807)
Josh Downs (98, 771)
Jerry Juedy was traded for a 5th and 6th in March, and then signed a three year, $52.5 million contract extension with the Browns.
Juedy
Slayton
Based on the market for Juedy and DPJ, my guess his market value is a 5th.
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In comment 16524825 markky said:
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Than anything we could get for him.
Keep him for the playoff push.
Playoff push hahaha. This Giants team is going to be a bottom of the barrel team this year.
Great. You should suspend your account and stop posting until they're not.
Why? Because I’m not a delusional Giants fan?
I agree 100%, he has more value to the Giants than a trade. Plus he has been healthy unlike others on the team.
He most likely won’t hold out, he has no leverage at this point.
A 4th would be highly unlikely. I'm sure Schoen would know that.
As a blazing fast proven NFL receiver, Slayton's the kind of guy a team in need will pay a little to lock in pre-waivers.
I can't imagine them extending Slayton unless he shows up for camp and crushes it, and even then he could find himself in the cold given the WR logjam. HIs agent is pretty tone deaf. I see him as likely to be gone in August as be extended.
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with conditions to upgrade it to a 4th if Slayton plays 50% or more of the offensive snaps for his new team.
You make an interesting point. But with Nabers, Robinson, and Hyatt it's not likely Slayton would see 50% of the snaps for the Giants, so it might be a stretch on a new team also. There aren't that many teams absolutely desperate for a receiver of Slayton's ability to make him a 50% offensive snap player.
A 4th would be highly unlikely. I'm sure Schoen would know that.
I agree, but a 5th is fair IMO, a 4th is only conditionally fair.
Even if your theory held water from a procedural standpoint (I'm not sure that it does; I don't see any reason why a team couldn't designate a retiree as a 6/1-release in advance just like they do for a standard roster cut), that still doesn't explain why Waller would be cryptic about it for any reason. Kelce announced his retirement, the team acknowledged his retirement, the press reported his retirement, and the only thing remaining is for the organization to file the actual paperwork with the league.
That's materially different than the Giants publicly saying that they don't know what Waller is planning to do, Waller himself publicly saying that he doesn't know what he's planning to do, and the press reporting that no one knows what Waller is planning to do.
I'm not buying the idea that the Giants are actually being shrewd here; I think they're just along for the ride with whatever Waller decides. At a certain point, I assume they'll get tired of waiting for Waller if he doesn't make a decision. But I don't think it's because the Giants have a plan already in action. I think - as with most things they do - they're just waiting to react. Fortunately, they at least put some contingency planning into place this time around.
Your 3rd WR and CB are starters. Your 4th are the 1st backups. You need a lot of real NFL players at those positions.
Now if the argument is that we're going to be bad this year and we should just plan for the future, I'm here for that. But the Giants are actually trying to win. Slayton is a useful member of the team that will probably play ~50% of snaps even if the young guys look good.