Giants release wide receiver Darius Slayton

The Giants waived receiver Darius Slayton on Monday in a mildly surprising move just days before the Giants’ season opener against the Cowboys at MetLife Stadium.

Slayton , who was drafted in 2019, was the longest-tenured player on the team. He was also the team’s nominee for the Walter Payton Man of the Year award in 2024 for his community work.

But Slayton, who signed a three-year, $36 million contract last season, struggled in training camp after surgery for a sports hernia in his legs this spring. He was passed up for first team reps in training camp by free agent signee Darnell Mooney and rookie Malachi Fields.

Slayton played 33 snaps in the Giants’ final preseason game, a telling sign of how far he fell on the depth chart. He played deep into the second quarter when multiple starters didn’t play at all and more potential starters were pulled early in the first.

"Grateful for my time in NY. 7 years a Giant nothing but love for one of the most prestigious organizations in the NFL. Excited to see what’s next," Slayton posted on his X account.

Grateful for my time in NY. 7 years a Giant nothing but love for one of the most prestigious organizations in the NFL. Excited to see what’s next 🙏🏾

— Darius Slayton (@Young_Slay2) September 7, 2026

Slayton was set to earn $12.5 million this season, with $9.7 million guaranteed. By waiving him, the Giants free up $3.2 million in cap space but also take on a dead salary cap hit of $12.7 million.

After being drafted in the fifth round out of Auburn, Slayton caught 296 passes for 4,435 yards (12th in team history) and 22 touchdowns. But he struggled last season with drops and finished with 37 catches for 538 yards, his lowest totals since 2021.

The move means that first-year coach John Harbaugh has parted ways with two of the longest-tenured Giants since his hire in January. The Giants also traded Dexter Lawrence to the Bengals in April just before the draft.