Darius Slayton surprised some people when he ended up re-signing with the Giants on a two-year deal last week. After all, the receiver caught just 46 passes this past season and was sometimes an afterthought in Brian Daboll’s offense.

But speaking to reporters on Monday afternoon after signing his deal (which includes guaranteed money through the 2023 season), Slayton made it clear that the Giants were the best fit for him, and that they made it known from the jump that they wanted to bring him back.

“We had multiple teams that were interested,” said Slayton. “This was really a pretty weird free agency year. Teams really weren’t just throwing around money, kind of like in other years. We had a few teams that were interested that I probably could have went with, but ultimately once they got (Daniel Jones) back – obviously the quarterback, so that’s a pretty big piece of being a receiver – just the familiarity here with what (Daboll) and (OC Mike Kafka) and Joe (Schoen) are building here and some of the guys that they acquired, I just felt like this would be the best place for me to go, and obviously I’m comfortable here.

“I enjoy being here, I enjoy the people, so it was easy to come back.”

Prior to signing with the Giants, Slayton, 26, drew interest from the Atlanta Falcons, which would have been a homecoming for the Norcross, Ga. native. And just when it looked like the Falcons might swoop in and land Slayton, he decided to stay in East Rutherford, N.J. to build on his relationship with his fellow 2019 draft class member.

“Ultimately, I think the best football decision for me was being back here with Daniel and continuing to grow with him in Kafka’s offense,” he said.

"It would've been kind of crazy to leave after somewhat building all these bricks, and as soon as we get this thing built to jump off the top It would have been kind of crazy," Slayton added. "I wanted to stick around and be at the top, take in the view myself. Some of the guys we’ve been able to sign and go get are just a testament to what we’ve been able to build here and what Kafka and Dabes and those guys have been able to bring to us."

Speaking of Jones, Slayton, a fifth-round pick the same year that Jones was taken sixth overall, explained that he was thrilled to see the Duke product land his new contract and stay in New York, and he’ll continue to always be one of Jones’ biggest supporters.

“I might have been more happy for his deal than my own deal, just because I’ve been here for everything that it’s taken for him to get here and kind of seeing the way people viewed him before and the way they view him now,” Slayton said. “Anybody who follows me on Twitter knows that Daniel Jones slander is not being tolerated on my timeline. That’ll be that way probably until the day that I die. I’m extremely happy for him and I’m just glad that he was able to get his due.”