Darius Slayton was a rookie with the Giants in 2019 when then-coach Pat Shurmur made the move to bench Eli Manning and install first-round pick Daniel Jones as the starter for a Week 3 game against the Buccaneers.
Six years later, Slayton is one of the winless Giants’ longest-tenured players as coach Brian Daboll ponders making a similar decision in potentially replacing veteran quarterback Russell Wilson in favor of first-rounder Jaxson Dart, possibly as early as Sunday’s game against the Chargers.
“I’ve kind of said it in the past, but even if you look back at 2019 when we had this similar situation with Eli and DJ,” Slayton said Monday. “DJ’s time with the Giants didn’t end in an amicable fashion, and a lot of people have a lot of reasons for that, but probably some of that was the fact that he was thrown in the fire Week 3 my rookie year and was asked to go out there and try to win football games while you’re still trying to figure the game out.”
Jones was released by the Giants last season before reemerging this year with the Colts and leading them to a 3-0 start.
Slayton pointed to two-time MVP and three-time Super Bowl winner Patrick Mahomes as a young quarterback who benefited from mostly sitting and watching during his rookie season with the Chiefs.
Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
“We just played a guy [Sunday] who didn’t play at all his rookie year, and he’s probably going to go down as the greatest player ever,” Slayton said. “So, if he can benefit from waiting and learning, anybody can.
“It’s not just him, [Ravens quarterback] Lamar Jackson waited. A lot of quarterbacks in this league took their time. They had a chance to grow, had a chance to learn and watch, and ultimately, I want Jaxson Dart to be a perennial All-Pro, Pro Bowl, Super Bowl-winning quarterback one day.
“[Chiefs coach] Andy Reid thought it worked, and they’ve been to a few Super Bowls in his time, so why not let [Dart] wait while he can wait?”
That is not to suggest, Slayton stressed, that he would not support that decision whenever the Giants are ready to make a change. He just hopes Dart is given time to blossom into the job.
“I mean, if they do, look, he’s talented. He’s shown himself to be able to learn fast. I think he’s capable of being an NFL quarterback” Slayton said. “I think he’s capable of being a good NFL quarterback. But, if they do, and if we do have a lackluster performance for maybe a week or two, it’s like, well, then if that’s the case, give him some time. Give him some grace.
“Don’t show up and boo him after a game or two if he doesn’t do well, which I don’t expect him to. … I’m just saying the reality is it might not [happen]. So, if that’s the case, give him time to grow. Give us time to gel. Let him be an NFL quarterback. Let him figure out what that is and learn and grow. … And give him a chance to grow and become a good quarterback. Something that I feel like Daniel Jones probably didn’t get the chance to become a good NFL quarterback. Something that I hope that Jaxson Dart will get the chance to do if he does get the opportunity to play.”
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
