What the Giants are Getting in TE Darren Waller

The Giants got themselves a big-play tight end via a trade.

The second day of the legal tampering period didn't bring any free agents for the New York Giants. Still, it did bring in an experienced playmaker by way of trade when general manager Joe Schoen sent the second of his two third-round picks (the one acquired from the Chiefs as part of the Kadarius Toney trade) to the Raiders in exchange for tight end Darren Waller.

Interestingly, last year, the Raiders were offered a second-round pick from the Packers for Waller, whom they signed to a three-year extension in September last year, but they declined. Waller went on to play in only nine games, the Raiders missing out on a chance to get a better value for him. 

WE GOT HIM 😤 pic.twitter.com/ASr91QHM9a

— New York Giants (@Giants) March 15, 2023

Waller was named to one Pro Bowl in his five years with the Raiders, and in recent seasons, he was considered a top-five player at his position.

He led the Raiders in receiving in the 2019 and 2020 seasons (1,145 and 1,196 yards, respectively). He holds the Raiders' record for single-season receptions with 107, which he attained in his 2020 campaign.

He was on his way to becoming a dominant receiving option for Las Vegas for years to come, but a variety of injuries over the past two seasons would hold Waller back from putting up the numbers he did in those 2019 and 2020 seasons.

Waller registered 3,469 yards and 17 touchdowns on 286 receptions during his time with the Silver and Black.

Contractually, this is a dream for the Giants. Waller is still owed roughly $46.6M over the next four seasons. Still, he only has guaranteed money due in 2023, which means the Giants could release him after the upcoming season and not be hit with any dead money if he should underperform.

Waller has struggled to stay healthy over the past two years but offers an elite skillset as a pass-catcher from the tight end spot. Since his breakout season in 2019, when he moved from wide receiver to tight end, he’s picked up 3,394 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns on 280 catches.

In 2022, the Giants found most of their success when operating out of 12 personnel (one running back, two tight ends, and two wide receivers), so upgrading the tight end position should be no surprise for Giants fans. Having the duo of Daniel Bellinger and Waller gives the Giants a tandem that can supply versatility to a team that wants to continue using 12-personnel.

Bellinger will likely be the traditional in-line tight end for the Giants, while Waller provides the dynamic play-making threat without being a complete liability as a blocker. With the offense's success last season coming from 12-personnel, it’s clear that the Giants are looking to lean more into the grouping that is picking up steam across all levels of football.

If Waller is healthy, he should immediately be Daniel Jones’s best friend as both a safety valve and vertical threat all over the field while also making the passing game more threatening in general, freeing up space for the running game.

Schoen and Brian Daboll are clearly on the same page regarding building this roster and are willing to gamble on players rebounding for their potential.

Additional reporting by Hondo S. Carpenter, Raider Maven

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