Consistent Darius Slayton might be 2024’s best bet in the NFL

Penciling in Darius Slayton for about 48 receptions and 740 yards next season might be the safest bet in the NFL. In a league where consistency is one of the most valued traits, there might not be a player whose year to year statistics fall within a tighter range than Slayton’s. Entering Sunday’s season finale against the Eagles, he already has between 45 and 50 catches and between 708 and 751 receiving yards for the fourth time in his five years with the Giants.

“I’ve definitely been trying to get beyond that,” Slayton told The Post, “but it’s been nice to show that I can at least put up the same numbers regardless of circumstances. “It’s not a range that I think is reflective of what I’m capable of, but I take pride in it because, quite frankly, there are a lot of things outside of my control that have happened in my five years here.

All you can do is play to the best of your ability and make plays when the ball comes your way, which is something I’ve been able to consistently do.” Slayton has played under three head coaches, four offensive coordinators and three position coaches, and alongside eight different quarterbacks. The Giants’ passing attack has never ranked higher than No.

18 in that five year span (No. 26 or lower four times), but the former fifth round draft pick’s 3,262 career yards are eighth highest in a loaded 2019 draft class that produced second round picks A.J. Brown, D.K. Metcalf and Deebo Samuel. “He’s a big play guy,” head coach Brian Daboll said. “He has more production in the NFL than he did in college, so that’s hard to do sometimes.

The job of a receiver is to make the plays and to finish the catches when they come your way, and he’s done a nice job with it.” Only 13 NFL receivers led the same team in receiving yards three times from 2019 22. The underappreciated Slayton, 26, is about to boost his resume to four times in five years.

After earning $6 million in the first year after re signing in free agency, Slayton can make an additional $100,000 in incentives Sunday if he has five catches and another $100,000 if he has 42 yards to push him to 50 for 750, according to The Athletic. “I haven’t put up the numbers that those other [top] guys have so I understand why I’m not perceived that way, but I also understand I’m not in their situations,” Slayton said.

“When it comes to receiver play, a lot of people think that if you swap me and D.K. Metcalf — just because we were drafted in the same class — he’d come here and have the same numbers he has in Seattle. “The reality is, that’s not true. Maybe he would’ve eclipsed 1,000 yards by now, but I can tell you whatever he has now, he wouldn’t have if he was here the last five years.

Unless you sit and watch film, you could never know something like that.” Perhaps the one consistency that Slayton has eliminated from his game is drops. He has lowered his total from 23 over the first four years to two this season. “The drop thing was overstated in the past because Travis Kelce led the league last year and you don’t hear anybody saying he has a drop problem,” Slayton said.

“I’ve never had double digit drops. But, on that note, it was a point of focus. “I’m always looking to better myself. Certain ways you drop the ball can be eliminated by simple, little adjustments to your mechanics, so I worked really hard on those in drills and mindset. There are so many different scenarios and factors in each catch, so focusing on making it all the same.” The Giants are expected to reshape their receiving corps again in the offseason, looking for a No.

1 target. But Slayton hasn’t taken a backseat to high priced additions Golden Tate, Kenny Golladay or Darren Waller over the years. Slayton would argue with NextGenStat’s assessment that he gets 2.7 yards of separation per route — tied for No. 45 in the league. He has touchdowns covering 69 and 80 yards over the last two games.

“I think I play as well in iso [coverage] as anyone,” Slayton said. “If I catch a 1 on 1, there’s a 99.9 percent chance I’m getting open. That’s my job.” And he is under contract with the Giants to do it again in 2024. “Hopefully, I can put together a third strong week in a row as a strong final impression,” Slayton said.

“Hopefully, I will be back here.”.