Darius Slayton

After a stellar rookie year, Slayton had a disappointing second season, in part because the Giants could not generate big plays as an offense. He still managed 15.0 YPC (8th among the league’s 90-target wideouts), but only 7.8 YPT, as he caught only 50 of his 96 targets. At 6-1, 190, Slayton has only average size, but he ran a 4.39 40 and showed explosiveness and route-running skills in his first two seasons. The problem for Slayton in 2021, however, is the arrival from Detroit of Kenny Golladay, who is also a downfield threat and was paid to be the team’s top target. The arrival of 20th overall draft pick Kadarius Toney and the presence of slot man Sterling Shepard also crowd the wide receiver field, and even unreliable tight end Evan Engram should siphon targets. Add star tailback Saquon Barkley returning to health following last year’s season-ending ACL injury, and it’s hard to see where Slayton gets enough volume to be a difference-maker this year.

Slayton vastly outperformed his fifth-round draft slot last year, posting 15.4 YPC and 8.8 YPT and scoring eight touchdowns despite not seeing heavy snaps until Week 6. At 6-1, 190, he has average size but legitimate deep speed (4.39 40), and he caught three passes of 40-plus yards on only 84 targets. Slayton also posted elite athletic marks at the 2019 NFL Combine with a 40.5-inch vertical and a 135-inch broad jump, and he was far more polished as a route runner than the league realized on draft day. He'll have to share Daniel Jones' passes with Golden Tate, Sterling Shepard and tight end Evan Engram, but Tate turned 32 in August, Shepard has struggled with concussions and Engram has been injured frequently in his young career, i.e., Slayton has a good chance to emerge as the team's most reliable pass catcher. It's unclear how offensive coordinator Jason Garrett will run the Giants offense - he was mostly run-oriented in Dallas but threw more often after Amari Cooper arrived in the second half of 2018 and all last year. The Giants' run-pass split likely will depend in large part on Jones' development and, of course, game flow.

Taken with the 171st overall pick in the 2019 draft, Slayton is an athletic prospect that could work his way into the No. 3 receiver role. At 6-2, 190, Slayton has decent size and 4.39 40 speed. He's also athletic -- his 40.5-inch vertical and 135-inch broad jump are both elite -- but journeymen Cody Latimer and Bennie Fowler also are in the mix. Even if Slayton were eventually to win the role, he'd still be fifth in the passing-game pecking order behind Sterling Shepard, Golden Tate (suspension), tight end Evan Engram and tailback Saquon Barkley.