Why the Giants paid $12.75 million to move on from Darius Slayton

New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (18). USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

Why the Giants paid $12.75 million to move on from Darius Slayton

By Olamilekan Ajayi | Last updated Sep 7, 2026 7:50 PM ET

The New York Giants released wide receiver Darius Slayton on Monday, just six days before their opener against the Dallas Cowboys. Slayton, a fifth-round pick in 2019, was the longest-tenured player on the roster.

The move creates $3.16 million in cap space and leaves $12.75 million in dead money on New York's books. Slayton was guaranteed $9.75 million this season and, per ESPN's Jordan Raanan, was set to earn $13 million.

He signed a three-year, $36 million contract with the Giants last offseason, the reward for a run in which he topped 700 receiving yards four times and led the team in receiving in each of those seasons.

Why did the Giants wait until now?

Slayton entered training camp as the No. 2 receiver behind Malik Nabers and finished the preseason at the bottom of the group. Nabers is healthy, third-round rookie Malachi Fields has a role, and Odell Beckham Jr. made the 53-man roster occupying similar snaps. Darnell Mooney is also on the depth chart.

Just in: The #Giants have released WR Darius Slayton.

He’s in the second year qof a 3-year, $36M contract. pic.twitter.com/FB8Xokj07T
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) September 7, 2026

Slayton had offseason surgery, and he said recently that he was not paying attention to speculation that he could be cut; also reports of his slide down the depth chart circulated through August.

“Nothing really. It’s not the first time, probably won’t be the last time, but I really don’t pay it too much of mind, honestly. I just take it day by day. . . . At the end of the day, you control what you can control and let the rest fall where it may.” Slayton reportedly said.

He caught 37 passes on 63 targets for 538 yards and one touchdown in 14 games last season. He never reached 800 receiving yards in a year, and the Giants paid roughly four times more to release him than they saved.

John Harbaugh's first Giants roster now carries a receiver group built around Nabers, a rookie, a 33-year-old on his second stint with the club and Mooney. The Giants also signed Jameis Winston and Jon Runyan Jr. to two-year extensions on Sunday, a day before eating Slayton's money.

Olamilekan Ajayi

More must-reads: