Former Auburn wide receiver Darius Slayton is set to join the Indianapolis Colts, according to multiple reports, marking the next chapter for the veteran pass-catcher who starred for the Tigers before a long run in the NFL.
Slayton, a Norcross, Georgia, native who played at Auburn from 2015 to 2018, will reunite with quarterback Daniel Jones on the Colts roster. The move comes as Indianapolis seeks depth after starting receiver Alec Pierce suffered a left heel injury in Sunday night’s overtime loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Pierce left the game late in the first quarter after appearing to reinjure the same lower leg that required surgery earlier this year. He could not put weight on the foot, was carted off and ruled out for the rest of the contest. Initial X-rays were negative, but further tests were planned for Monday to determine the full extent of the setback.
For Auburn fans who followed Slayton’s college career, the signing offers a chance to track another Tiger in a new uniform. At Auburn he developed into a reliable deep threat, showing the speed and hands that later helped him last seven seasons with the New York Giants.
The Giants selected Slayton in the fifth round of the 2019 NFL draft, the same year they took Jones sixth overall. The two spent six seasons together in New York, building a working relationship that produced solid production for both. Slayton finished his Giants tenure with 296 receptions for 4,435 yards and 22 touchdowns in 106 games, starting 78 of them.
Production slowed in recent seasons. In 2025 he recorded 37 catches for 538 yards and one touchdown in 14 games. The Giants released him on Sept. 7, shortly before the regular season began, despite having signed him to a three-year, $36 million deal the previous year. The post-June 1 cut created modest salary-cap relief for New York while making Slayton an unrestricted free agent.
Several tems showed interest after the release. Slayton had undergone core-muscle surgery in April and used the early weeks of the season to continue recovering fully. Waiting allowed him additional time before choosing his next landing spot.
The Colts presented a natural fit. Jones has revived his career in Indianapolis after leaving the Giants, and the team needed help at receiver. Ashton Dulin has been sidelined with an ankle issue, thinning the group further. Josh Downs performed well in Pierce’s absence with seven catches for 72 yards against Kansas City, but the offense still lacked consistent vertical threats.
Slayton offers that element along with veteran experience. At 6-foot-1 and 198 pounds, the 29-year-old has long been viewed as a complementary piece capable of stretching defenses without needing to be the primary target. His time at Auburn under coaches who emphasized physical routes and contested catches prepared him for that role at the next level.
Auburn supporters who remember his contributions in the SEC will likely follow his progress closely in Indianapolis. The Colts sit at 0-2 and host the Houston Texans this Sunday, giving Slayton a chance to settle in quickly if the deal is finalized soon.
Terms of the agreement have not been publicly detailed. Sources indicated the signing is expected to be completed in the coming days, allowing Slayton to begin practicing with his new teammates this week.
The addition gives Jones another familiar target at a moment when the Colts offense needs stability. Pierce’s status remains uncertain, and the front office moved promptly to address the depth concern rather than rely solely on remaining options such as Keenan Allen, Laquon Treadwell or rookie Deion Burks.
Slayton’s path from Auburn to the NFL has been defined by steady professionalism. He earned a reputation as a former team captain and reliable teammate during his Giants years, qualities that should translate well in a new locker room.
For those who watched him develop on the Plains, this latest move represents another opportunity for the former Tiger to contribute at the highest level. Whether he steps into a significant role or provides rotational depth will depend on Pierce’s recovery and how the Colts coaching staff deploys its receivers.
The signing keeps an Auburn product active in the league and gives fans another name to track each Sunday. Slayton’s next chapter begins in Indianapolis, where old connections and new needs have aligned at the right time.
