Giants' $36,000,000 star predicted to give Jaxson Dart "deep threat" option in Brian Daboll's offense: Report

Darius Slayton appeared set to leave the New York Giants coming into this offseason, but the organization decided to re-sign the seasoned wide receiver to a three-year contract worth up to $36 million.

Malik Nabers is anticipated to remain the Giants's top wide receiver in 2025 after a successful 2024 season. Slayton is still expected to play a significant part in the team's offensive scheme this season, though, per a recent article by Aaron Schatz of ESPN discussing the "most underrated NFL players at every position.”

Schatz also believes Darius Slayton is the NFL's most underrated wide receiver.

"Advanced metrics support the move since Slayton has had a positive receiving DVOA (defense-adjusted value over average) for three straight seasons," Schatz wrote. "And it's not like he has done that while working with any of the NFL's best quarterbacks."

Additionally, the ESPN analyst said that Slayton can be a "deep threat" option for the New York rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart or veterans Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston.

"With Russell Wilson, Jameis Winston, and/or Jaxson Dart under center in 2025, Slayton should continue to work as a deep threat opposite Nabers. He'll probably put up another quietly productive and surprisingly efficient season," Aaron Schatz added.

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Darius Slayton will be looking to have a breakout year with better quarterback play in 2025

Darius Slayton - one of the New York Giants's longest-serving players - was selected by the team in the fifth round of the 2019 NFL draft. But the seasoned wide receiver hasn't put up particularly impressive stats during his career; he has never surpassed 800 receiving yards or caught 10 touchdown passes in a season.

Despite this, Slayton has been one of the Giants's most dependable weapons in the passing attack over his six years with the organization, finishing as the team's top receiver four times. Considering that he primarily had to cope with Daniel Jones's erratic quarterback play, this is even more impressive.

Darius Slayton was the unofficial WR1 in the team's offense for a long stretch before Malik Nabers joined in 2024. But he had a poor year in 2024, as most targets went to Nabers. Slayton only caught 39 passes for 573 yards and two touchdowns, representing the second-worst totals of his career.

Slayton might be poised for a breakthrough season this year since the arrival of Russell Wilson, Jameis Winston and Jaxson Dart is expected to create a more reliable and competent quarterback scenario.