Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton recently underwent core-muscle surgery, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports. The procedure should not affect Slayton’s availability for training camp, per Garafolo. It will also have no impact on a potential reunion with free agent wideout Odell Beckham, Paul Schwartz of the New York Post relays. The Giants hosted Beckham in late April, and while they have left the door open on a deal, they have not made an offer to the 33-year-old. Beckham did not play anywhere in 2025. Meanwhile, Slayton caught 37 passes for 538 yards and a touchdown in 14 games. He will be part of a more crowded receiving corps in 2026. The Giants will get No. 1 receiver Malik Nabers back from a torn ACL, and Darnell Mooney, Calvin Austin and third-rounder Malachi Fields are among their new additions.
More from the NFC…
- Now entering the last season of a four-year, $64.02MM contract, Falcons safety Jessie Bates is due to earn a $16MM salary – the eighth-highest total at the position. The three-time second-team All-Pro is a good bet to stick around Atlanta in 2027, according to Josh Kendall of The Athletic, though he notes it is likely the team will begin extension negotiations at a lower salary figure. While Bates managed his third straight full season last year and once again posted solid production (98 tackles, three interceptions), age is working against him as he seeks his next deal. By the time the 2027 season kicks off, Bates will be 30 years old. In the meantime, he will pair with Falcons safety Xavier Watts for the second year in a row. Those two accounted for defensive snap shares around 99% in 2025, an impressive rookie season for Watts.
- No cornerback taller than 6-foot-4 has ever played a regular-season NFL game. That will change if Seahawks cornerback Tyrone Broden earns a roster spot. The 6-5 Broden joined the Seahawks as an undrafted receiver last year, but he is now transitioning to the defensive side of the ball, per Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk. Broden spent some of last season on the Seahawks’ practice squad and did not get into any games. The reigning Super Bowl champion Seahawks boast a loaded defensive backfield, which works against Broden, but they lost 6-4 corner Riq Woolen to the Eagles in free agency.
- In another position switch, the Buccaneers’ Nash Hutmacher is shifting from defensive tackle to guard, Greg Auman of FOX Sports reports. Undrafted a year ago, the former Nebraska D-tackle spent the season on the Bucs’ practice squad.
- In using a a seventh-round pick on former LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, the Chiefs took a potential option away from the Packers. Green Bay would have had interest in Nussmeier had he gone undrafted, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN relays. The Packers pivoted to former Virginia Tech QB Kyron Drones on the UDFA market. Drones, Tyrod Taylor and Kyle McCord are their backup options behind starter Jordan Love. Like Drones, Taylor is a Virginia Tech product. The 36-year-old has carved out a long career as an occasional starter/dependable backup since the Ravens selected him in the sixth round of the 2011 draft.
Did anyone else read this and go “Man, Odell is only 33?”
On another note, I have to wonder who in Gutekunst’s front office thought that Nussmeier was going to undrafted completely.
Once a guy falls to the 7th, it’s not crazy, especially with talk of a cyst near his spine. But I’m still surprised someone didn’t grab him sooner.
As for Beckham, I always remember he was in the same draft as Mike Evans, but didn’t realize he’s almost a year older.
It’s wild to look back on someone trading a future first to trade up for Sammy Watkins when Evans, Beckham, Brandin Cooks, Davante Adams, and Allen Robinson all went later in the same draft.
Yeah, that receiver class was very inverted. Of course, where a guy ends up matters-Adams is a great example, as having Rodgers throwing to him with Nelson and Driver as mentors really helped him develop early on. Cooks got to play with Brees in Payton’s system, before then going to Brady. Those guys weren’t made by others, but they definitely got help in reaching their full potential.
Watkins…funny about him is how he actually was the “star” receiver at Clemson. Hopkins was the guy that you’d say was better if you were “in the know” and talking about their dynamic players at that position, but Watkins had the fame and headline space that Hopkins didn’t. Watkins had too many injuries, but he also ran limited routes with inconsistent hands. Elite talent, but not complete. Of course, going to Buffalo (in a very unstable offense at that time) didn’t help.
As for Nussmeier…there are plenty of reasons that he slid, but to step back and think that he was not going to be drafted is unthinkable. Teams reach for potential in much more questionable ways (Allar was a third rounder, albeit without health concerns and still was a major reach, but it shows that teams will gamble on talent). I would bet that every team was watching Nussmeier fall and seeing who would take him, but it was inevitable that some team would send a sixth or seventh for him. They’re filling out the roster at that point, and a guy who was rated by many sources as the third best QB this year is definitely worth a seventh round flier.
So, it’s just seems like a “well, duh” thing to say. Of course Green Bay would have interest if Nussmeier if he went undrafted. Literally every team would. Also, given the prenegotiated contracts and structure, a seventh or sixth probably ends up cheaper or with fewer guarantees than a free agent negotiation…especially with other interested teams jockeying for space. And we’re talking QB here, so it’s likely that the guarantees will be higher just naturally due to the position. So it actually makes more sense to spend the seventh or sixth on Nussmeier if you want him than it does to sign him later, in my opinion. Not much reason to wait, and not much reason to spell out something obvious in my mind.
Yeah, don’t get me wrong. I still would have taken a shot on Nussmeier earlier than that. Frankly I might still prefer him to Klubnik for the Jets.
2026 will be Darius Slayton’s 8th year as a NYG. Pretty remarkable for a guy who has never eclipsed 50 catches a season or been a top 3 option at receiver.
He’s been a top 3 and even top 2 option at WR in several seasons, whether through skill or injuries. He’s led WRs and even the team in receptions before.
“Never eclipsed 50 catches a season.” The guy’s had two 50 catch seasons and another two over 45. He’s also topped 700 yards four times. The idea that he’s never been a top three option at receiver is silly.
The weird thing is sticking with the Giants so long through so many coaches and so many rumors they were going to move on.
Slayton is a really solid #2/3 WR.
Some guys just aren’t top options but that doesn’t mean they aren’t really quality WRs in their own right.
On an unrelated note, Jesse Bates has gotta be one of the best draft steals in recent memory.