​As training camp nears, several threads are weaving through the New York Giants wide receiver room. Among them, questions about Odell Beckham Jr.’s remaining burst, and whether rookie Malachi Fields can contribute meaningfully, are prominent. Yet the most pressing storyline centers on Malik Nabers’ health and who would lead the depth chart if he isn’t ready to start the season. At the top of the depth chart contenders, two veterans are competing for that role: Darius Slayton and Darnell Mooney. Each has an argument for being the top option on the outside if Nabers can’t participate at the outset of camp.
New York drafted Slayton in the fifth round (171st overall) of the 2019 NFL Draft, and he remains the longest-tenured Giant. In 14 games last season, he posted 37 receptions for 538 yards and a touchdown. While Slayton has built a rapport with quarterback Jaxson Dart, the 29-year-old has endured crucial drops that have plagued him throughout his career. Additionally, his yards-per-catch figure has trended downward in each of the past three seasons. The Giants re-signed him to a three-year, $36 million contract in March 2025, but that deal is often cited as one of several missteps during general manager Joe Schoen’s tenure. Slayton also returned from core muscle surgery that sidelined him during OTAs. With the influx of receivers this offseason, he’ll need to deliver a strong summer to cement a place at the top of the depth chart.
Mooney joined the Giants on a one-year, $10 million deal in March, and while he’s new to the team, he brings a familiarity with offensive coordinator Matt Nagy from their time together with the Chicago Bears from 2020 to 2021. Those early years were productive for Mooney, who totaled 142 receptions for 1,686 yards and eight touchdowns across his first two seasons in the league. Last year with the Atlanta Falcons, the 28-year-old wideout appeared in 15 games and recorded 32 receptions for 443 yards and a touchdown. The thinking around Mooney is that reuniting with Nagy and playing with a more capable quarterback could unlock a higher ceiling this season. Since signing with New York, Mooney has been working out with Dart to start building chemistry, and his familiarity with the offensive system positions him well for a productive summer.
From a career-statistics perspective, Slayton and Mooney are fairly close. Slayton has appeared in 106 games, registering 296 receptions for 4,435 yards and 22 touchdowns. Mooney, in 91 games, has 309 receptions for 4,028 yards and 17 touchdowns. Neither player is the clear, dominant No. 1 option in a pass-heavy scheme, but with Nabers sidelined or limited early on, Slayton and Mooney should be the two primary candidates to serve as Jaxson Dart’s go-to targets on the outside. The depth chart at wide receiver could hinge on who capitalizes on the opportunities presented in training camp and the preseason, as Nabers’ status remains uncertain. The competition between Slayton and Mooney is shaping up to be one of the Giants’ defining battles this offseason, with both players aiming to prove they can be the reliable outside threat Dart can rely on when the season begins.