They were drafted together by the Giants in 2019, Daniel Jones as the sixth-overall pick, Darius Slayton in the fifth round.
So I asked Slayton: Tell me why you’re not upset that you’re not catching passes from Aaron Rodgers?
“Because I’ve played with Daniel Jones since he’s been here, he’s accurate, and me and him have chemistry, I don’t have chemistry with Aaron Rodgers,” Slayton told The Post.
“I’ve never thrown with him, never seen him throw in person. As great as he is, there’s always an air of person-to-person, individual-to-individual. Not every two individuals gets along the same.
“There’s a reason why when Davante Adams left Green Bay, none of the other receivers played with Aaron Rodgers the same way Davante Adams would. It didn’t make Aaron Rodgers any less great, but he didn’t have that same wavelength with those other guys.
“That’s why I say I’ll take DJ all day.”
Over Aaron Rodgers …
“Me personally, yes.”
But Rodgers is a future first-ballot Hall of Fame quarterback.
“Daniel Jones might be a first-ballot Hall of Fame quarterback one day,” Slayton replied. “We don’t know yet, do we?”
It is safe to conclude that Slayton would have approved of a tearful Terrell Owens defending Tony Romo following the Cowboys’ 2008 playoff loss to the Giants with his “That’s my quarterback” line.
Every quarterback should have a public defender as staunch as Jones has in Slayton. Any and every criticism of Jones, on social media or otherwise, will immediately trigger Slayton into a passionate It-Is-Better-To-Give-Than-Receive defense.
I ask him: Is there any receiver in the NFL who is more loyal or more of a fierce defender of his quarterback than you are?
“I think not. I’m pretty sure I take the cake. I’m probably the funniest as well,” he said with a smile.
Some of Slayton’s defenses via his @Young_Slay2 Twitter account:
“Lol Daniel Jones a 75….count your days Madden developers I will find you and you will answer for your sins against humanity”
“Idk why people continue to do this i have said on multiple occasions Daniel jones slander will not be tolerated”
I ask Slayton why he feels the need to do this.
“Ever see the ‘Key & Peele’ skit where he’s like Obama’s anger translator? That’s kinda the approach I take,” he said. “DJ’s a super humble guy. He would never respond to any of these people on his own, he’s got better things to do. But I don’t. So my offseason I have the petty and the time to defend my guy.”
With all the coaching and system changes that marred Jones’ first three NFL seasons came doubts about whether he could be the Giants’ first post-Eli Manning franchise quarterback.
The most unfair criticism?
“I guess probably the fact that people say he’s not capable of being a top-tier quarterback in this league I’ll probably say is unfair,” Slayton said. “If you look at our first four years here, a lot of change, a lot of people in and out, a lot of system change. If you look at the guys that you consider the top, whatever, five quarterbacks in the league, they all have the same person calling the same plays for the first four, five [years] — [Patrick] Mahomes, or Josh Allen, or Joe Burrow — like they have the same people in there. That’s why they continue to be successful.”
What does top-tier mean, specifically in Slayton’s eyes?
“Top 10, whatever it is, in the league,” Slayton said. “I think he has all the ability in the world to be one of the best quarterbacks in the league overall.”
Jones, as the Giants’ $40 Million Man, will be expected to throw more than the 15 touchdown passes he threw last season.
And Slayton, who was re-signed to a two-year, $12 million deal that could max out at $16.5 million will be expected to catch more than the two TD passes he caught last season.
“I’m aware that in order to get your quarterback to that 30, 40 mark, you gotta catch and run and get some of these in yourself,” Slayton said. “As long as we help him, we know he’s gonna put it on us.”
Jones, as a dual threat, rushed for 702 yards and seven TDs, but Slayton and the additions of tight end Darren Waller and receivers Parris Campbell and Jalin Hyatt will make for explosive fireworks potential in his passing stats.
“I don’t know about a particular number, but I think that he’s capable of throwing however many you’d want a starter to throw,” Slayton said.
Slayton’s 15.0 yards per reception are the third most in the NFL since 2019. He won over the new regime.
“I plan to show that them keeping me here was a good thing,” Slayton said.
Jones, the $40 Million Man, is no different than Jones, the rookie, in his dedication to his craft.
“He always knew what he was doing,” Slayton said. “I never feel like there was a time where it was like he came in the huddle and the quarterback didn’t know what he was talking about or felt like he was unprepared.”
Mild-mannered as he may be off the field, Jones has a raging fire on the field.
“Whatever needs to be said in the moment, his competitiveness really comes out and he says what needs to be said,” Slayton said.
And Slayton will say what he feels needs to be said when the haters disrespect Jones.
“Since we were rookies, DJ’s done a lot for me in my career, not just throwing me the ball, but just as a person,” he said. “I’ll forever appreciate him, forever be indebted to him for the way he’s treated me.”
That’s his quarterback.
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