NFL
By: Mark T. Wilson
The Philadelphia Eagles are coming off a Super Bowl defeat and with a slew of free agents to decide on, one thing is for certain, Howie Roseman must find a 3rd receiver for Jalen Hurts. Darius Slayton’s time with the New York Giants may be up and a deal with a rival seems to be a good move for both parties.
Slayton, in his 4 seasons in the NFL (all with the Giants) has not lived up to his billing. In 59 career games, Slayton has caught 170 passes for 2554 yards, and 15 TDs. Not a good look for the receiver but for the Eagles, this could be a match made in heaven. For starters, with his production or lack thereof, Slayton could be had on the cheap. Last season, he made a little under $1M and with Howie known as a cap genius, and with the Eagles under tight restraints, this could be done.
With the WR free agent market not as flush, Slayton may draw interest from other teams. And there is still a chance the Giants may want to bring him back. However, if Slayton is looking to make a mark this season and win, then signing with the Eagles seems like a sure thing.
Is Darius Slayton A Fit For The Philadelphia Eagles?
Pairing Darius Slayton with AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith will give the Eagles the missing piece in the passing game. The Eagles last season relied on Brown and Smith for the heavy lifting but off-season acquisition Zach Pascal did not pan out as expected. Brown and Smith accounted for 183 receptions, 2665 yards, and 18 TDs. Pascal, caught just 15 passes for 150 yards and 1 TD while Quez Watkins hauled in 33 passes for 354 yards and 3 TDs. The Eagles need more production.
What’s great about Slayton is that he’s a good slot and possession receiver. Last season, he hauled in 30 receptions for 1st Downs. Brown and Smith combined for 116. Adding a player like Slayton would free up Brown and Smith more downfield. The Eagles last season were not big-play threats. Both players worked the middle of the field often which was due to not having a 3rd receiver who was reliable in making the tough catches in front of the LBs.
Brown averaged 17.0 yards per reception while Smith averaged 12.6. Slayton averaged 15.6 yards per catch coupled with 746 yards but only reached the endzone twice. With the Eagles’ offense more than one-dimensional, Slayton may not get to 100 receptions on the year, but he can surely match or pass what he has done with the Giants.
What this pairing would come down to is money. The Markey Value for Darius Slayton heading into free agency is $3.5M. Roseman can swing this even with the Eagles strapped for cash. Right now, it’s not about attacking big names like DeAndre Hopkins or going after Odell Beckham Jr. The Philadelphia Eagles need players who fit what they’re trying to build here and get back to the Super Bowl.
