Darius Slayton: No way I was leaving Giants now
Darius Slayton #86 of the Giants celebrates his third quarter touchdown against the Houston Texans at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, Nov. 13, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Credit: Jim McIsaac
Darius Slayton had opportunities to leave the Giants in free agency. In the end, given the current state of the team, none of them outweighed the possibilities of staying.
“It would’ve been kind of crazy to leave as soon as we get the thing built,” Slayton said, alluding to the Giants’ turnaround in 2022.
Slayton has been further energized by the Giants’ moves in free agency.
“I think just some of the guys we’ve been able to sign, it’s just a testament to what we’ve been able to build here and what [offensive coordinator Mike Kafka and coach Brian Daboll] have been able to bring to us,” he said.
In addition to quarterback Daniel Jones (four-year, $160 million deal), running back Saquon Barkley (franchise tag, $10.091 million for one year) and Slayton (two years, $12 million) returning, the Giants traded with the Raiders for tight end Darren Waller and brought in former Colts receiver Parris Campbell.
Slayton was a fifth-round draft pick of the Giants in 2019, and his first three seasons were lean ones. He recognizes a franchise on the rise when he sees one, though, and for the receiver, that began with Jones at quarterback.
“I was really happy when his deal got done,” Slayton said. “That was obviously a huge plus for me in coming back here. So I was extremely happy to see him [signed].”
Slayton, who had 46 catches for 724 yards and two touchdowns in 2022, was an early believer in Jones.
“I might’ve been happier for his deal than my own deal, honestly,” Slayton said. “Just because [I’ve seen] the way that people viewed him before and the way they view him now.
“Anybody who follows me on Twitter knows Daniel Jones slander is not being tolerated on my timeline. That’ll be that way probably until the day I die. So I’m extremely happy for him. And I’m just glad he was able to get his deal.”
Feliciano to 49ers. Former Giants offensive lineman Jon Feliciano told Newsday on Monday that he agreed to a one-year deal with the San Francisco 49ers. Along with the loss of Nick Gates to the Washington Commanders earlier in free agency, the Giants have lost two veteran linemen.
Kimberly Jones covers the Giants for Newsday, a beat she first worked in the early 2000s before joining the YES Network to cover the Yankees. She worked for the NFL Network for more than a decade and has been heard semi-regularly on WFAN.
