Remember when the New York Giants “won” the trade with the Las Vegas Raiders for tight end Darren Waller? Fast forward to now, and it looks exactly the opposite. After a disappointing 2023, Waller is considering retiring after just one season with Big Blue and eight years total in the NFL. This begs the question: why is this happening?
A Mess The Team Does Not Need Right Now
The Giants already have enough issues they need to address. From the future at quarterback to bringing back Saquon Barkley and Xavier McKinney, it’s stressful for GM Joe Schoen. The recent news on Waller would lead to another position needing attention this offseason.
The other tight end on the roster is Daniel Bellinger. Drafted a couple of years ago from San Diego State, he’s young. But, he is nothing close to the playmaker that Waller has shown flashes of when he was with the Raiders.
Waller’s injuries have been nagging throughout his career. After playing in all 16 games in 2019 and 2020, the most he’s played since then is 11. His last season with the Raiders saw him play just nine games. He recorded just 28 receptions for 388 yards and three touchdowns. The injury history didn’t scare the Giants, who saw the high reward over the risk when trading for him.
Now, Waller’s impending retirement could see the Giants having to address the position either in free agency and the draft.
First Year With The Giants? Meh.
Waller’s chemistry with quarterback Daniel Jones was seen in the preseason. The potential with these two teaming up was beyond expectations.
Fast forward to the regular season, and the two didn’t even connect for a single touchdown. Waller played just 12 games with the team, recording just one touchdown on the year (thanks, Tyrod Taylor).
What was thought to be a trade for an explosive weapon turned out to be a failure. For a team starving for impactful playmakers, Waller did not play that part for the Giants in 2023.
Now What?
As simple as it sounds, we wait. The Giants have made it clear they want the veteran back for 2024, and do not plan on cutting him. If healthy, they hope he bounces back and becomes a big playmaker for whoever is under center this upcoming season.
It will be up to Darren Waller to decide if he wants to play another year. With the number of injuries he’s gone through the years, I won’t be surprised if he called it quits. As for the Giants, losing Waller means mock drafts predicting Georgia’s Brock Bowers gets chosen at sixth overall looks a whole lot smarter now.
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