EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – The Giants today began their work week by signing two of their 2019 draft choices and bringing back a defensive lineman who spent the entire 2018 season on their roster.
Linebacker Ryan Connelly and wide receiver Darius Slayton, each drafted in the fifth round last month, formally signed their first NFL contracts. The Giants also re-signed defensive tackle John Jenkins, who had been a free agent.
Connelly, 6-3 and 242 pounds, was the 143rd overall selection. After arriving at the University of Wisconsin as a walk-on, he played in 52 games with 26 starts and had 251 tackles, 29 tackles for loss, 6.0 sacks, and two interceptions.
Slayton, 6-2 and 190 pounds, was chosen 171st overall. In three seasons at Auburn, he played in 38 games and caught 79 passes for 1,605 yards (20.3-yard avg.) and 11 touchdowns, with a long catch of 74 yards. His receiving yardage ranks 11th on Auburn's career list.
The Giants have signed half of their 10-member draft class, including Notre Dame cornerback Julian Love, selected in the fourth round, and their two seventh-round choices, Kentucky tackle George Asafo-Adjei and Syracuse defensive lineman Chris Slayton.
The five draft choices who have yet to sign their contracts are the three first-rounders – Duke quarterback Daniel Jones, Clemson defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence and Georgia cornerback DeAndre Baker – third-round choice Oshane Ximines, an outside linebacker from Old Dominion, and sixth-rounder Corey Ballentine, a cornerback from Washburn.
Jenkins joined the Giants last Sept. 4, when he was awarded to the team off waivers after being released by the Chicago Bears. He played in seven games and was inactive for nine, and his only statistic was one quarterback hit.
Jenkins, a third-round draft choice by New Orleans in 2013 from Georgia, previously played for the Saints, Seahawks and the Bears.
View photos from the second practice of rookie minicamp at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center
New York Giants Rookie Mini-Camp at Quest Diagnostics Training Center in East Rutherford, NJ
New York Giants Rookie Mini-Camp at Quest Diagnostics Training Center in East Rutherford, NJ
New York Giants Rookie Mini-Camp at Quest Diagnostics Training Center in East Rutherford, NJ
New York Giants Rookie Mini-Camp at Quest Diagnostics Training Center in East Rutherford, NJ
New York Giants Rookie Mini-Camp at Quest Diagnostics Training Center in East Rutherford, NJ
New York Giants Rookie Mini-Camp at Quest Diagnostics Training Center in East Rutherford, NJ
New York Giants Rookie Mini-Camp at Quest Diagnostics Training Center in East Rutherford, NJ
New York Giants Rookie Mini-Camp at Quest Diagnostics Training Center in East Rutherford, NJ
New York Giants Rookie Mini-Camp at Quest Diagnostics Training Center in East Rutherford, NJ
New York Giants Rookie Mini-Camp at Quest Diagnostics Training Center in East Rutherford, NJ
New York Giants Rookie Mini-Camp at Quest Diagnostics Training Center in East Rutherford, NJ
New York Giants Rookie Mini-Camp at Quest Diagnostics Training Center in East Rutherford, NJ
New York Giants Rookie Mini-Camp at Quest Diagnostics Training Center in East Rutherford, NJ
New York Giants Rookie Mini-Camp at Quest Diagnostics Training Center in East Rutherford, NJ
New York Giants Rookie Mini-Camp at Quest Diagnostics Training Center in East Rutherford, NJ
New York Giants Rookie Mini-Camp at Quest Diagnostics Training Center in East Rutherford, NJ
New York Giants Rookie Mini-Camp at Quest Diagnostics Training Center in East Rutherford, NJ
New York Giants Rookie Mini-Camp at Quest Diagnostics Training Center in East Rutherford, NJ
New York Giants Rookie Mini-Camp at Quest Diagnostics Training Center in East Rutherford, NJ
New York Giants Rookie Mini-Camp at Quest Diagnostics Training Center in East Rutherford, NJ
New York Giants Rookie Mini-Camp at Quest Diagnostics Training Center in East Rutherford, NJ
New York Giants Rookie Mini-Camp at Quest Diagnostics Training Center in East Rutherford, NJ
New York Giants Rookie Mini-Camp at Quest Diagnostics Training Center in East Rutherford, NJ
New York Giants Rookie Mini-Camp at Quest Diagnostics Training Center in East Rutherford, NJ
New York Giants Rookie Mini-Camp at Quest Diagnostics Training Center in East Rutherford, NJ
New York Giants Rookie Mini-Camp at Quest Diagnostics Training Center in East Rutherford, NJ
New York Giants Rookie Mini-Camp at Quest Diagnostics Training Center in East Rutherford, NJ
New York Giants Rookie Mini-Camp at Quest Diagnostics Training Center in East Rutherford, NJ
New York Giants Rookie Mini-Camp at Quest Diagnostics Training Center in East Rutherford, NJ
New York Giants Rookie Mini-Camp at Quest Diagnostics Training Center in East Rutherford, NJ
New York Giants Rookie Mini-Camp at Quest Diagnostics Training Center in East Rutherford, NJ
New York Giants Rookie Mini-Camp at Quest Diagnostics Training Center in East Rutherford, NJ
New York Giants Rookie Mini-Camp at Quest Diagnostics Training Center in East Rutherford, NJ
New York Giants Rookie Mini-Camp at Quest Diagnostics Training Center in East Rutherford, NJ
New York Giants Rookie Mini-Camp at Quest Diagnostics Training Center in East Rutherford, NJ
New York Giants Rookie Mini-Camp at Quest Diagnostics Training Center in East Rutherford, NJ
New York Giants Rookie Mini-Camp at Quest Diagnostics Training Center in East Rutherford, NJ
