Why trade chatter surrounding Giants WR is different this year

While Slayton is no stranger to being at the center of trade speculation during his time in New Jersey, he has yet to actually be moved. This year, however, presents a new challenge as he is set to enter free agency and the Giants have shown little interest in bringing him back. 

"I think the Slayton discussion is: Could you trade him for a fifth-round pick?" The Athletic writer Dan Duggan said when asked about potential moves the Giants could make by the deadline.  "And you might say that's not very much for a guy who's been really reliable, the question you have to ask yourself...are you going to make an earnest effort to bring him back."

Duggan explained that although the Giants season looks bleak at 2-4, the outlook could change if they win two or more games ahead of the trade deadline. This would likely change the conversation about Slayton's role with the team in the short term. 

However, coming off a dispiriting loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 6 and heading into a tough matchup with the 3-2 Philadelphia Eagles in Week 7, the path for the Giants to avoid being sellers is a hard one. 

Slayton has been a solid contributor since being drafted in 2019, posting career totals of 3,625 yards, 8.5 receiving yards per target and 20 touchdowns. In 2024, he's recorded 301 yards, an average of 12 yards per reception, but just one touchdown through six weeks.

Still, Slayton is the team's clear No. 2 receiver behind rookie superstar Malik Nabers. While Slayton has the third most receptions on the team (24), he has the team's longest reception of 41 yards and three plays of 20 or more receiving yards, second behind Nabers.  

Trading Slayton won't improve the team this year. Instead, it would be a move solely focused on increasing the number of draft picks the team could use next year. It would be a sign of further disappointment in this Giants team and open up more questions about who else can step up behind Nabers.

Wan'dale Robinson has proven to be a shifty receiver, posting the team's most yards after the catch (148) behind Nabers (156), whereas Slayton has only been able to get 46 yards after the catch. But Robinson hasn't yet lived up to his explosive potential and has made key drops alongside the rest of the receivers this season. 

By letting Slayton go, the Giants would lose out on a reliable option in the pass game and a player who has been a stable presence in the locker room his whole career. While he isn't going to move the needle every week, he's proven that he's a good, affordable wide receiver who can make the team better. 

A fifth-round pick may not move the needle now, but for the Giants, it may be less about immediate impact and more about that uncertain future. 

The team looks set to move on from quarterback Daniel Jones next season and that pick could be used as part of a trade package in next year's draft to move up the board and find the quarterback of the future. Without Slayton, though, there would be one less reliable target for the Giants quarterback of 2025 and beyond.