darius slayton

New York Giants: Drafting Jaylen Waddle or DeVonta Smith only makes Darius Slayton better

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New York Giants, Darius Slayton

The New York Giants are pondering who to select with the eleventh overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. An argument has risen on Giants Twitter based on the team’s reported interest in top prospects. Fans are debating, should the Giants take one of the draft’s top wide receivers or one of the draft’s top cornerbacks?

One of the arguments against drafting a wide receiver with the eleventh overall pick is that the Giants already have a competent receiving corps. New York signed Kenny Golladay as its top receiving option this offseason. Opposite of him will be Darius Slayton in his third season. The dependable Sterling Shepard will move back into the slot.

On paper, that is a solid receiving trio. Behind the top three are a couple of quality depth options in John Ross and Dante Pettis. Fans are arguing that Darius Slayton is a quality secondary outside receiver, which is why the Giants should address a different position of need with their first draft pick. However, I will make a counterargument. Drafting an elite wide receiver talent at eleven overall will serve to maximize Darius Slayton’s talents and give Daniel Jones and the Giants’ offense all the tools possible to find success in 2021.

How Darius Slayton benefits from the Giants going receiver at eleven

There are two elite wide receiver talents that the Giants are reportedly interested in at eleven overall. Alabam wideouts Devonta Smith and Jaylen Waddle. Devonta Smith was this year’s Heisman Trophy winner and is an elite talent that shattered records in 2020 at Alabama. Jaylen Waddle is considered by some to be the best wide receiver in this year’s draft class thanks to his game-breaking speed and rare athletic traits.

Darius Slayton is currently projected to be the Giants’ number two receiving option as their “Z” receiver. If the Giants were to draft Waddle or Smith, they would move into that number two role opposite of Golladay while Shepard continues to hold down the slot. This means Darius Slayton would fall to number four on the Giants’ receiver list.

Some view that as a negative for Big Play Slay. I think that this influx of additional receiver talent would benefit Darius Slayton and the Giants’ offense as a whole. Having four talented, starting-level receivers on the roster would allow the Giants to run more 14-personnel and four or five receiver sets. This would stretch opposing defenses’ secondaries thin, forcing a team’s fourth-string cornerback to be tasked with guarding Darius Slayton, a potential WR2 on some teams.

It is difficult to find depth at the cornerback position, similarly to wide receiver. But the pick of a wide receiver at eleven would give the Giants tremendous depth at the position to roast opposing secondaries lacking cornerback depth. Darius Slayton is likely talented enough to toast most fourth-string cornerbacks in the NFL on a play-by-play basis.

How Daniel Jones benefits, too

Additionally, having so much wide receiver talent on the roster and on the field at the same time makes life a whole lot easier for Daniel Jones. The Giants’ receivers struggled to gain separation and make plays for Jones in 2020. With such an influx in talent in 2021, that problem would dissipate and Daniel Jones would enjoy slinging the rock to a group of playmakers that could outmatch nearly any secondary in the NFL.

New York Giants: An NFC East best offense in 2021?

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New York Giants, Saquon Barkley, Darius Slayton

The New York Giants had one of the worst offenses in the league in 2020 – but that might have changed around quickly based on how things have gone so far during the offseason. The Giants were already expected to see a boost to their offense going into the next season with a healthy Saquon Barkley, but that boost is greatly expanded by adding a receiver that has the potential to finish as one of the top ten in the league: Kenny Golladay.

The Golladay deal gives the Giants the number one receiver they haven’t had since they moved on from Odell Beckham Jr. Sterling Shepard never quite rose to that role, and Darius Slayton hasn’t been consistent enough to seize it either. Now, the Giants have what they’re looking for.

But the Giants still have other, less consistent but still dangerous talents in their back pocket. With a number one threat for defenses to focus on, these talents might be able to shine more. They include Evan Engram, whose receiving potential the Giants have continued to bet on each season as calls to trade the tight end go unheard. And Darius Slayton, who was still an 8 touchdown receiver in 2019 despite his lesser performance in 2020.

The Giants added another depth player to the receiving game with tight end Kyle Rudolph, who himself is only one year removed from a 6 touchdown season in 2019. If Saquon Barkley can stay healthy this entire season, the Giants will also have one of the most dynamic weapons in the running game this year.

It’s a bit early to start crowning the best offense in the division, and the last Giants teams to be crowned early have underperformed big time. But if there’s one season when the Giants will avoid that fate, it seems like this one.

After all, with the team finally getting a number one receiver, and other talents returning and having less pressure on them to take on the entire load for the offense, we might just see more than one player blossom from the move the Giants have made.

New York Giants: What will Darius Slayton’s role be in 2021?

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New York Giants, Darius Slayton

Those who expected big things from the New York Giants‘ offense in 2020 were left severely disappointed. The Giants averaged a putrid 17.5 points per game this past season. Entering the season, there was plenty of excitement surrounding the Giants’ offensive core.

Veterans like Saquon Barkley, Evan Engram, and Sterling Shepard were looking to grow in a new offensive scheme. Quarterback Daniel Jones was entering his second season, along with wide receiver Darius Slayton, with both players coming off of impressive rookie campaigns. But, unfortunately, one of these players did not make the strides forward that they were expected to.

Daniel Jones seemed to make progress in 2020. His statistics were not impressive, but many fans feel he took a step forward and played much better in the second half of the year. Daniel did have a huge grade jump from Pro Football Focus. In 2019, his overall grade was a 65.9. In 2020, his overall grade rose to a respectable 78.4.

Darius Slayton, however, did not take the same jump that was expected of him. After an impressive rookie season where Slayton found the end zone 8 times with 740 receiving yards, fans thought he could elevate to a new status. But, it was more of the same, maybe even a little less from Slayton in 2020. Darius totaled only 750 yards on 2 more receptions with only 3 total touchdowns.

Now, entering the 2021 NFL offseason, the Giants are looking for new playmakers. General manager Dave Gettleman promised at his post-season press conference that he would upgrade the offense. With this in mind, Darius Slayton’s role in 2021 seems clouded and needs definition.

What will Darius Slayton’s role be in 2021?

Many Giants fans had high hopes for Darius Slayton in 2020. They thought he could elevate to “WR1” status and become New York’s primary receiver. But as the season went on, fans’ opinions changed and they started to hope he would develop into a high-end WR2.

Now, entering this offseason, the Giants are looking for new wide receivers to add to the mix. This could push Slayton down to “WR3” or “WR4” status. But could a reduced role like that benefit the wide receiver as he enters his third season?

As a primary receiver in the Giants’ offense, Slayton struggled at times. Lining up against opposing defense’s best cornerbacks might have been a task too tall for Darius. But in 2021, if the Giants are able to add a new primary wide receiver, Slayton could reap the benefits of facing the opposing team’s second, third, or even fourth-best cornerbacks.

Against team’s with weak secondaries, Darius Slayton flashed his high-end play. For example, Big Play Slay had 8 receptions for 129 yards against the Dallas Cowboys in Week Five. He also had a 93 yard receiving performance against Philadelphia in Week Ten.

Darius Slayton still had a couple of elite performances in 2020. But the consistency was lacking week-to-week. This could have been caused by injuries that bugged Slayton throughout the season. But looking ahead to 2021, if the Giants are able to add that new wide receiver they are searching for, they could see a new and improved Darius Slayton in a more refined role.

New York Giants: Darius Slayton’s stock dropping with every passing week

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New York Giants, Darius Slayton

Entering the 2020 season, most believed the New York Giants‘ wide receiver Darius Slayton would make a significant jump. So far this season, Slayton has struggled to improve his route running and hands, completing just 52.2% of his attempted catches.

On the year, he has 729 yards and three touchdowns, down from his 2019 statistics, where he posted 740 yards and eight touchdowns.

The Giants’ offense has been struggling all year to get things going, and Darius hasn’t been the only disappointing player. Offensive playcalling has been lackluster from Jason Garrett, following a disappointing year from Pat Shurmur and his schematics.

Quarterback Daniel Jones has suffered through multiple injuries, including a pulled hamstring and left ankle issue, which has kept him out of two games this year so far. Against the Baltimore Ravens this past weekend, the Giants posted just 13 points, totaling 26 over the last three games. If there’s any indication of lackluster performance, it is that statistic. Jones has only thrown for nine touchdown passes this year, indicating poor efficiency in the red zone, but an uptick in running the football has been a major cause for his minimal production.

Who’s to blame for the New York Giants’ inept on offense?

Jason Garrett is to blame for most of the Giants’ issues, but we can’t forget about the playmakers and their inability to separate on routes. It seems as if their opponents know what is coming on any given play, just take a look at the clip below, as Slayton lines up in man coverage, and the cornerback brakes on the slant and nearly causes a turnover.

Whether it be Jones staring down his receivers and avoiding reads on the opposite side of the field, or Slayton’s poor sell on the route, things aren’t clicking. Slayton’s decreasing efficiency makes acquiring a wide receiver this upcoming off-season a necessity.

Whether it be a free agent or draft prospect, the Giants would benefit from adding an elite route runner to their receivers’ core. For example, let’s say they manage to grab Allen Robinson in free agency, pairing him with a dynamic slot receiver like Sterling Shepard, and deep threat like Slayton would completely open up the field.

With Saquon Barkley also expected to be back in 2021, the offense could be entirely different. However, it starts with the play calling and route concepts, which are criminally undeveloped and predictable.

Following back up on Slayton, I believe he’s lacking confidence, and when Jones is staring him down on slants and the only opportunities he gets downfield are in man-coverage and not exposing cover-2, his abilities are limited. It’s tough to say, but Shurmur actually utilized this offense more adequately, and he was bad from what we remember.

New York Giants: Wide receivers held offense back against Arizona

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New York Giants, Daniel Jones

The New York Giants‘ winning streak came to an end on Sunday after a putrid offensive performance against the Arizona Cardinals. New York let up eight sacks and gained only 159 total yards of offense. Daniel Jones played through his hamstring injury and passed for only 127 yards before being pulled for backup Colt McCoy.

All game long, Daniel Jones was struggling to find open receivers to throw to. The Giants’ wide receivers could not separate from coverage on Sunday. They were completely outmatched and they have been for most of this season. The season is far from over, with the Giants only one game out of first place in the NFC East. However, it will be hard for the Giants to slip into the postseason if their receiving corps continues to play at this level.

The 2020 Giants wide receivers

The New York Giants starting wide receivers are Sterling Shepard, Darius Slayton, and Golden Tate. Shepard has been with the Giants the longest but has been held back by injuries over the last few seasons. But now, seemingly fully healthy, Shepard has not opened up the offense the way he was expected to.

Golden Tate is in his second season with the New York Giants. He was signed to a lucrative contract last offseason. Since then, Tate has been in the spotlight for a few of the wrong reasons, such as a PED suspension and a public criticism of the Giants’ offense.

Darius Slayton is the Giants’ second-year wide receiver that was expected to have a breakout 2020 season. That has not happened, though, as Slayton has been entirely unreliable this season. In Week 10, Slayton had 5 receptions for 93 yards. He followed that up with a 0 reception performance in Week 11.

Inconsistency and injuries have held the Giants’ receiving corps back in 2020. But what has held them back the most is a simple lack of talent. Yes, Tate, Shepard, and Slayton are talented receiving options. But no, none of those guys are true number one wide receivers that open up an offense and allow the offense to run through them.

In Week 14, the Giants’ wide receivers failed to separate from coverage. According to Next Gen Stats, the league average receiver separation is 2.86 yards. Golden Tate’s average separation in Week 14 was 0.42 yards. Slayton’s average separation was 1.37 yards. Shepard’s average separation was 1.86 yards. The entirety of the Giants’ receiving corps was far below average on Sunday, making things incredibly difficult for quarterback Daniel Jones.

New York Giants’ Darius Slayton has disappeared as of late, what’s going on?

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New York Giants, Darius Slayton

When attributing the word “polarizing” to a player, you might think of New York Giants tight end Evan Engram due to his play-making ability but odd trend of turnover-worthy mistakes. There’s another player who fits the mold of “polarizing,” and his name is Darius Slayton.

The Giants’ speedy wide receiver was considered a possible WR1 candidate entering the season and backed up that sentiment with 102 yards and two touchdowns in week 1 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Since then, Slayton’s influence has gradually fallen off, as he hauled in his one catch for 14 yards against the Seattle Seahawks last Sunday.

In fact, the former Auburn star has battled a lack of targets, among other things, in his fall-off. Against Cincinnati, quarterback Daniel Jones lofted a 50-yard pass downfield to Slayton, who was visibly hobbled and lacked the breakaway speed we usually encounter when called to action. The drop was a direct result of nagging injuries and early contact by the corner, limiting him to 113 yards over the past four weeks.

The New York Giants WR has struggled lately:

The second-year wideout hasn’t scored since week 6, and before that, week 1 was his last time in the end-zone. The Giants have desperately missed his down-field ability, settling into a run-first game-plan that has paid off exponentially. The Giants have enjoyed four consecutive games with 140+ rushing yards, a stellar feat that has propelled them into the top five in rushing-attack the last four weeks.

An improvement in the offensive line and running game has undoubtedly stolen targets from Slayton, which isn’t a bad thing, but he’s been utilized more as a decoy than star pass-catcher downfield.

“We call our offense based on what gives us the best possible chance to win and there have been some instances where Slayton has been open and there are some other guys open as well, so we go to other guys,’’ receivers coach Tyke Tolbert said, per the NY Post. “It’s not like we’re not trying to get him the ball. I know it looks that way on the outside, but no. Slayton is a very important part of our passing offense.’’

Slayton has been dealing with a slight ankle sprain, battling through it on a weekly basis. However, the more pressing issue is the lack of targets and desire from receivers to have the ball thrown their way.

“All receivers feel like they’re always open and they want all the targets and all the catches and all the touchdowns, and when they don’t get it, some people, it affects some people more than others,’’ Tolbert said.

Moving forward, I wouldn’t expect Darius to be a fantasy-booming receiver for Big Blue, but rather a complimentary piece to the running game, which is a good thing. Running the football well keeps the defense off the field and time of possession in favor of the Giants. Extending the field with his speed and solid run-blocking abilities make him an asset whether or not he’s being targeted in the passing game.

New York Giants: Is Darius Slayton trending toward WR1 status?

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New York Giants, Darius Slayton

After a strong rookie season where New York Giants receiver Darius Slayton posted 740 yards and eight touchdowns, the expectation was that he would improve in 2020. Some even coined him a possible wide receiver one in the NFL, showing off stellar developments in his route running and catching ability.

Dating back to the beginning of his first rookie camp, Slayton was dropping passes at an astronomical rate, but he has solved that issue and is one of the more reliable receivers for the Giants this season. Through 10 games, Slayton has 584 yards and three scores, catching nearly 60% of balls thrown in his direction.

He is on pace for 934 yards receiving end five touchdowns, but Slayton doesn’t live and die off the deep ball anymore. He’s averaging more yards per game and the same yards per reception as last year, his rookie season. His ability to run more efficient slant routes and digs has helped quarterback Daniel Jones in the passing game.

Is Darius Slayton a WR1 for the New York Giants?

At this point in his career, Darius seems to be trending toward ‘great’ status, but I don’t think he will ever reach WR1. He simply doesn’t have the elite playmaking ability and consistent hands you would see in a player like Julio Jones or DeAndre Hopkins. He’s a more slender receiver at 6-foot-1 and 190 pounds, utilizing his agility and speed to get open.

That doesn’t mean he can’t be incredibly efficient alongside Sterling Shepard and potentially another pass catcher in 2021. The Giants could target free agents like Allen Robinson or Kenny Golladay, who are bonafide top receivers and would bring a stellar presence to the offense.

Nonetheless, it is important to have secondary receivers that can perform exceptionally well on a weekly basis, and Slayton fits that bill perfectly. Not only has he developed into a much more refined route runner, but he pushes the defense and stretches the field, opening up the running game and play action.

Through 10 weeks, he has a 73.2 overall grade, tallying 30 first downs and four drops. Aside from the first two weeks of the season, Slayton has been solid when targeted in the passing game but is actually dropping the ball more than he did in his rookie season when he recorded just three.

I believe an uptick in targets might be the result, but he has proven to be a play-maker for the Giants and one they can rely on.

New York Giants: Sterling Shepard key to offense’s success

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New York Giants receiver, Sterling Shepard.

The New York Giants suffered a heart-breaking loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday Night. But the Giants’ offense had one of its best performances of the season in that game.

New York’s offense put together three touchdown drives, including one 15-play 75-yard scoring drive. That drive was capped off with a touchdown pass to wide receiver Sterling Shepard. Shepard played his first game since Week Two as he has been recovering from a turf toe injury on injured reserve.

In his first game back from injury, Sterling Shepard was excellent and proved just how important he is to the Giants’ offense.

Sterling Shepard Week 7 Stats and Highlights

Sterling Shepard was the Giants’ leading receiver on Thursday night. He totaled 6 receptions for 59 yards and 1 touchdown on 8 targets.

The key to Shepard’s success is his route running. Sterling is by far the Giants’ best route runner. He is able to run elite routes to separate from defenders and get himself open against tight coverage. Shepard averaged an impressive 4.5 yards of separation according to Next Gen Stats.

Sterling Shepard’s consistent separation is crucial for the Giants’ offense. The rest of the team’s playmakers on offense often struggle to separate on their routes. Darius Slayton is only averaging 2.1 yards of separation and Golden Tate is averaging 2.7 yards.

The Giants’ offense severely missed having Sterling Shepard on the field. But now, with Shepard healthy and back in the starting lineup, the Giants’ passing attack should improve drastically. The Giants finally have a wide receiver who can get open consistently. Expect to see Sterling Shepard finish the 2020 NFL season strong for New York.

New York Giants: WR Darius Slayton emerging as a premier playmaker

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New York Giants, Darius Slayton

The New York Giants‘ offense has been one of the worst in the NFL through five weeks of the 2020 NFL season. Daniel Jones and the offensive line have struggled to get the offense rolling this year. There has also been a slew of injuries and some questionable play calls within Jason Garrett’s offensive scheme.

The Giants’ offense has been held back by a variety of factors. But, in the darkness, there has been one glimmer of hope. Wide receiver Darius Slayton has been excellent, despite the offense’s struggles, and appears to be emerging as a premier playmaker in New York’s offense.

Darius Slayton 2020 Stats and Highlights

Daniel Jones and Darius Slayton are both competing in their second professional seasons. Jones was the Giants’ first-round pick in 2019 and Slayton was selected in the fifth round of the same draft. The two players developed special chemistry in their rookie season. So far, as sophomores, their chemistry seems to be even stronger than it was last year.

New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones has struggled in 2020. He has thrown only 2 touchdown passes in five games compared to 8 turnovers in the same span. But Darius Slayton has been, by far, his most reliable receiving option and his biggest playmaker.

Darius Slayton has caught each of Daniel Jones’s two touchdown passes this season, both coming in Week One against the Steelers. He has also hauled in 23 receptions on 40 targets, totaling 365 yards.

Slayton is coming off of arguably the most impressive performance of his career in Week Five versus Dallas. In this heartbreaking loss, Slayton was phenomenal, totaling 129 yards on 8 receptions and 4 missed tackles. He was a threat before and after the catch. Slayton also had a 30+ yard receiving touchdown wiped away by a penalty in that game.

This Week Five performance earned Slayton a spot on Pro Football Focus’s Team of the Week. Slayton earned an elite 91.2 receiving grade against the Cowboys.

Entering Week Six, Slayton is primed to face off against the Washington Football Team. They too have a talented second-year wide receiver in Terry McLaurin. Giants fans are hoping to see their young wide receiver outplay the other and lead the Giants to their first win of the 2020 NFL season.

New York Giants: Darius Slayton still listed as limited on latest report

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The New York Giants need all the weapons on offense they can get when they face Washington in their next game. The team is still hunting for their first win and is missing both Sterling Shepard and Saquon Barkley – and while Shepard is set to return to practice this week and was working out with trainers recently, he won’t be back in time for the Washington game.

Therefore, any more injuries on offense will put the Giants into an especially bad spot going into this game. Unfortunately, it looks like they still have to deal with one at an important spot. Wide receiver Darius Slayton was listed as injured on the team’s most recent injury report.

Top wide receiver in question

Slayton is participating in practice but thanks to a foot injury, that’s only limited participation. That’s not great news right now for the Giants because Slayton is by far their top receiver. Slayton not only has a pair of touchdowns but has significantly more receiving yards than the players that are behind him on the list – Evan Engram and Golden Tate. Thanks to his injury, Sterling Shepard only has 76 yards despite being projected as one of the receiving leaders.

Perhaps more importantly, Slayton possesses good chemistry with quarterback Daniel Jones. With Jones under enough pressure right now, the last thing he needs is having to play an upcoming game without his favorite target in the passing game.

Still, the fact that it’s only midweek rather than later in the week is a reason to have some hope in this case. There’s still time for Slayton to shed the limited designation and return to playing at full speed before the Giants take on Washington on Sunday.

But will the receiver be in top shape for that matchup given the injury trouble that’s present now? That’s something we might not know until the Giants take the field and look to avoid an 0-6 start.