WR Option for $12 million was floated by the Bears on the “Chopping Block.”
The Chicago Bears may choose to select one of the best receivers in the class with their ninth overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft, improving their receiv
The Giants’ 2019 second-round selection, Darius Slayton, may be nearing the end of his career if they decide to take one of the receivers with their advantageous first-round pick (No. 6 overall). Malik Nabers of LSU was predicted by ESPN’s Mel Kiper and NFL.com’s Chad Reuter to be selected by the Giants with the sixth pick. The Rome Odunze from Washington was still usable in both mocks, underscoring New York’s chance to improve. ing group for the upcoming campaign. But if they come out of the draft still looking for depth at the position, they might have a chance to go through the cut pile of the New York Giants.
Selecting one of the receivers with their advantageous first-round draft position (No. 6 overall) could mean the end of Darius Slayton’s career with the Giants, a second-round selection in 2019. The sixth-pick selection of the Giants was predicted by ESPN’s Mel Kiper and NFL.com’s Chad Reuter to go to Malik Nabers of LSU. New York had a chance to improve since Washington’s Rome Odunze was still usable in both mocks.
Should Slayton become a free agent, the Bears may be able to sign him for a low cost. Even their name was mentioned by Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report in his article from April 9 regarding well-known veterans who might be put on the “chopping block” following the draft.
Knox stated, “In practically any other offensive lineup, Slayton wouldn’t be a top target.” He would, nevertheless, make a good complem
As a former second-round pick, Slayton hasn’t always performed to the level predicted of him. He has had chances to lead the Giants offense as their top receiver, but he has failed to stay productive at the level expected of a premier pass-catcher. He also struggled with drops, allowing eighteen passes to elude him in three seasons (2020–2022) before he finally buckled down and managed to control the situation better in 2023.
Nevertheless, Slayton just finished one of his best Giants seasons. He finished with a career-high 770 yards and four touchdowns after catching 50 of his 79 targets, which is the second-highest career catch percentage of 63.3%. Even though he only won two ofthe eleven contested catches, he took advantage of
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Slayton might not be a bad pick for the Bears even if they do select a wide receiver at No. 9 if the Giants decide to release him rather than attempt a trade. Without Slayton and his $12 million contract, Chicago would have no incentive to trade. To help protect themselves from injuries, they might be willing to take a chance on him for a single season as a No. 4 or rotational player if he is cut and they can work out new terms for the 2024 campaign.
option for the Chicago Bears, Pittsburgh Steelers, or Arizona Cardinals, or any other team that lacks depth at the position overall. For the 2024 campaign, the Bears’ receiving group has been strengthened. They lost Darnell Mooney and Equanimeous St. Brown (who is still available), but they added six-time Pro Bowl player Keenan Allen to their roster through trade, and they brought veteran Dante Pettis back to provide depth. Whether they select one at No. 9 or manage to acquire another in the later rounds, they will also be well-positioned to add another explosive pass-catcher to their roster in the draft.
However, the Bears’ next move may reveal a lot about what they think Tyler Scott will be capable ofAs a rookie, Scott, a 2023 fourth-round pick, was not always able to take advantage of his limited opportunities to shine. During his 257 receiving snaps, he caught 17 of his 31 targets for 168 yards and no touchdowns, but he also fumbled once and dropped three passes, one of which was a touchdown opportunity in the Week 17 victory over Atlanta. His speed was impressive, but occasionally he struggled with ball tracking and contact balance.
Nevertheless, there are many reasons for the Bears to stay upbeat about Scott. Though his speed is obvious, he still needs to work on improving his contact balance and becoming more dependable when tracking the ball, as he did at Cincinnati during his college career. After a slight increase in his second season, he
The Bears’ continued treatment of their receiver position will be a telling indicator. Although adding a rookie receiver like Darius Slayton at No. 9 would not guarantee Scott’s success, it would show that Chicago does not think highly of him.
