I will be interested to see if there’s any market for Darius Slayton. While he’s a lightly-regarded receiver, he’s been productive with his limited opportunities.
Slayton has spent the last six years with the Giants, where he’s mostly been undermined by porous offensive lines and suspect quarterbacking. But there’s always been a sprinkling of plays that makes you wonder if he might be dramatically better in a different situation.
Slayton caught 8 TDs as a rookie. He had that streak at the end of 2023 where he caught touchdowns in three straight games. And when Malik Nabers missed two games, Slayton in a larger role caught 14 passes for 179 yards and a touchdown.
In the last three years, there have been 53 receivers who’ve had at least 200 passes thrown their way. Of that group, Slayton ranks 8th in yards per target.
Admittedly, “yards per target” is an obscure stat. But all of the other receivers in the top 10 using this metric are guys we think of as being good – Aiyuk, Waddle, Collins, Jefferson, Pickens, Tyreek, Nacua, and the two Philly receives (A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith).
I would think there will be some teams that are interested in signing Slayton to be a third receiving option. And I could see him outplaying expectations, being more of a No. 2 guy.
YARDS PER TARGET (last 3 years) | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Player ('24 team) | Rec | Yds | Avg | TD | Tgt | Yds/Tgt |
Brandon Aiyuk, S.F. | 178 | 2,731 | 15.3 | 15 | 266 | 10.3 |
Jaylen Waddle, Mia. | 205 | 3,114 | 15.2 | 14 | 304 | 10.2 |
Nico Collins, Hou. | 185 | 2,784 | 15.0 | 17 | 274 | 10.2 |
Justin Jefferson, Min. | 299 | 4,416 | 14.8 | 23 | 438 | 10.1 |
A.J. Brown, Phil. | 261 | 4,031 | 15.4 | 25 | 400 | 10.1 |
George Pickens, Pitt. | 174 | 2,841 | 16.3 | 12 | 293 | 9.7 |
Tyreek Hill, Mia. | 319 | 4,468 | 14.0 | 26 | 464 | 9.6 |
Darius Slayton, NYG | 135 | 2,067 | 15.3 | 8 | 221 | 9.4 |
Puka Nacua, LAR | 184 | 2,476 | 13.5 | 9 | 266 | 9.3 |
DeVonta Smith, Phil. | 244 | 3,095 | 12.7 | 22 | 337 | 9.2 |
Alec Pierce, Ind. | 110 | 1,931 | 17.6 | 11 | 212 | 9.1 |
Mike Evans, T.B. | 230 | 3,383 | 14.7 | 30 | 373 | 9.1 |
Terry McLaurin, Was. | 238 | 3,289 | 13.8 | 22 | 369 | 8.9 |
Jerry Jeudy, Cle. | 211 | 2,959 | 14.0 | 12 | 332 | 8.9 |
Tee Higgins, Cin. | 189 | 2,596 | 13.7 | 22 | 294 | 8.8 |
CeeDee Lamb, Dall. | 343 | 4,302 | 12.5 | 27 | 489 | 8.8 |
Ja'Marr Chase, Cin. | 314 | 3,970 | 12.6 | 33 | 454 | 8.7 |
Amon-Ra St. Brown, Det. | 340 | 3,939 | 11.6 | 28 | 451 | 8.7 |
Jordan Addison, Min. | 133 | 1,786 | 13.4 | 19 | 207 | 8.6 |
Christian Kirk, Jac. | 168 | 2,274 | 13.5 | 12 | 265 | 8.6 |
Amari Cooper, 2TM | 194 | 2,957 | 15.2 | 18 | 345 | 8.6 |
DK Metcalf, Sea. | 222 | 3,154 | 14.2 | 19 | 368 | 8.6 |
Zay Flowers, Balt. | 151 | 1,917 | 12.7 | 9 | 224 | 8.6 |
Chris Olave, N.O. | 191 | 2,565 | 13.4 | 10 | 301 | 8.5 |
Darnell Mooney, Atl. | 135 | 1,899 | 14.1 | 8 | 228 | 8.3 |
Deebo Samuel, S.F. | 167 | 2,194 | 13.1 | 12 | 264 | 8.3 |
Stefon Diggs, Hou. | 262 | 3,108 | 11.9 | 22 | 378 | 8.2 |
Jauan Jennings, S.F. | 131 | 1,656 | 12.6 | 8 | 202 | 8.2 |
DJ Moore, Chi. | 257 | 3,218 | 12.5 | 21 | 394 | 8.2 |
Tyler Lockett, Sea. | 212 | 2,527 | 11.9 | 16 | 313 | 8.1 |
Courtland Sutton, Den. | 204 | 2,682 | 13.1 | 20 | 334 | 8.0 |
Jakobi Meyers, L.V. | 225 | 2,638 | 11.7 | 18 | 331 | 8.0 |
Calvin Ridley, Ten. | 140 | 2,033 | 14.5 | 12 | 256 | 7.9 |
Drake London, Atl. | 241 | 3,042 | 12.6 | 15 | 385 | 7.9 |
Chris Godwin, T.B. | 237 | 2,623 | 11.1 | 10 | 334 | 7.9 |
Allen Lazard, NYJ | 120 | 1,629 | 13.6 | 13 | 209 | 7.8 |
Cooper Kupp, LAR | 201 | 2,259 | 11.2 | 17 | 293 | 7.7 |
Josh Downs, Ind. | 140 | 1,574 | 11.2 | 7 | 205 | 7.7 |
Tyler Boyd, Ten. | 164 | 1,819 | 11.1 | 7 | 237 | 7.7 |
Adam Thielen, Car. | 221 | 2,345 | 10.6 | 15 | 306 | 7.7 |
Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Sea. | 163 | 1,758 | 10.8 | 10 | 230 | 7.6 |
DeAndre Hopkins, 2TM | 195 | 2,384 | 12.2 | 15 | 313 | 7.6 |
Keenan Allen, Chi. | 244 | 2,739 | 11.2 | 18 | 360 | 7.6 |
Davante Adams, 2TM | 288 | 3,723 | 12.9 | 30 | 496 | 7.5 |
Romeo Doubs, G.B. | 147 | 1,700 | 11.6 | 15 | 235 | 7.2 |
Brandin Cooks, Dall. | 137 | 1,615 | 11.8 | 14 | 228 | 7.1 |
Michael Pittman, Ind. | 277 | 2,885 | 10.4 | 11 | 408 | 7.1 |
Garrett Wilson, NYJ | 279 | 3,249 | 11.6 | 14 | 469 | 6.9 |
Curtis Samuel, Buff. | 157 | 1,522 | 9.7 | 9 | 229 | 6.6 |
Diontae Johnson, 3 tms | 170 | 1,974 | 11.6 | 8 | 301 | 6.6 |
Marquise Brown, K.C. | 127 | 1,374 | 10.8 | 7 | 223 | 6.2 |
Elijah Moore, Cle. | 157 | 1,624 | 10.3 | 4 | 271 | 6.0 |
Wan'Dale Robinson, NYG | 176 | 1,451 | 8.2 | 5 | 249 | 5.8 |
—Ian Allan