Per Josina Anderson of Exhibit News Network, three interested teams contacted Slayton's camp shortly after his release, though she didn't name all of them.
Anderson did point to the Indianapolis Colts as a speculative fit, while noting Indianapolis itself had not yet made contact directly.
Move That Caught Even Slayton Off Guard
The release ended a seven-year run in New York for the 2019 fifth-round pick, and it came with financial cost to the Giants, eating $12.7 million in dead money while saving just $3.1 million against this year's cap.
The Giants reportedly would have preferred a trade if they could have found a partner willing to give up something meaningful, and ESPN's Jordan Raanan reported the team had already explored trade conversations before ultimately releasing him instead.
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
"Grateful for my time in NY," Slayton posted on X. "7 years a Giant nothing but love for one of the most prestigious organizations in the NFL. Excited to see what's next."
He Fell Out Of The Picture
The move goes back to a crowded receiver room and a slow recovery from double offseason hernia surgery.
New York's offense under new head coach John Harbaugh has trended toward bigger personnel groupings with fewer three-receiver sets, and Malik Nabers, Malachi Fields, Darnell Mooney, and Odell Beckham Jr. had all clearly passed him on the depth chart.
Slayton was visibly frustrated with his lack of preseason targets, and per Yahoo Sports, he may have been the one to push for a resolution once it became clear he was at risk of being a healthy scratch for Sunday's opener against Dallas.
Darius Slayton "did not ask for his release" but this was rather a "move by the Giants" to let him go, according to Connor Hughes and his sources.
— Big Blue Film Room (@BigBlueFilmRoom) September 8, 2026
Slayton was likely going to be a Week 1 healthy scratch.
The Giants now rely on Odell Beckham Jr., Malachi Fields and Darnell… pic.twitter.com/YA4cAyRjGf
Beyond the Colts, several other logical fits have been floated.
New England makes sense given head coach Mike Vrabel's own admission that his roster lacks depth, especially after trading away Kayshon Boutte.
Dallas, ironically New York's Week 1 opponent, was also mentioned, both for pure receiver need and the added benefit of gaining insight into Harbaugh's new offensive scheme.
Tennessee stood out too, where Slayton would reunite with offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, his former head coach in New York.
Per Anderson, Slayton likely won't sign until sometime after Week 1, giving him more distance from the core-muscle surgery that limited him in camp. Slayton posted at least 500 receiving yards in six of his seven NFL seasons, a track record that should make him a legit value add for whichever team ultimately lands him.
