Darren Waller Shares Advice with 2024 Tight End Draft Prospects

Giants TE Darren Waller took part in a special IcyHot promotion in which he shared some knowledge with 2024 tight end draft prospects Cade Stover (Ohio State) & Ja'Tavion Sanders (Texas).

New York Giants tight end Darren Waller / Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

Although New York Giants tight end Darren Waller has yet to decide if he will continue his NFL career this year, that hasn't stopped him from sharing what he's learned throughout his NFL journey with the next generation of tight ends.  

Last week in Las Vegas, Waller was part of a promotion for IcyHot, sponsors of the "Icy Hot Pro Training and Recovery Experience." There, he linked up with fellow “Icy Hot Squad'' members and 2024 draft prospects Ohio State tight end Cade Stover and Texas tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders, as well as current Raiders quarterback Aidan O’Connell on drills such as entering and exiting their breaks as well as talking through body positioning and how their routes are affected based on the type of defender guarding them. 

The Giants, who could very well be in the market for a tight end in this year's NFL draft if Waller does decide to hang up his cleats, were only too eager to soak up the information Waller shared.

Texas Longhorns tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders / Matthew Hinton-USA TODAY Sports

“My main focus, coming into this and taking the next step for the NFL, is definitely working on my run blocking," Sanders, a converted receiver, said. 

"I’ve never had a problem with blocking—I used to love blocking at receiver and bully DBs, but I’ve just got to hone in more on the fundamentals of it. I’m still kind of new to the position.” 

Stover also soaked up Waller's knowledge. He said he understands the importance of putting oneself in situations that test one's resolve in handling pressure, and he dealt with that to a degree at Ohio State, where every season, the expectations are championship or bust. 

Ohio State Buckeyes tight end Cade Stover / Columbus Dispatch-USA TODAY Sports

“Just like anything else, if you put yourself in worse situations than what you are normally going to be in, basically live in those environments, and have the experience like that, I think it helps mentally and physically,” he said.

Stover is more of a move-around H-back type who loves physicality and is used to handling big, strong defensive linemen. He would also be an intriguing option for the Giants as more of a Dawson Knox type of tight end. 

With the pressure set to amp up at the next level, Waller shared some tips with the two prospects on how he handled things when the heat was on.

“To cool them off, I would say build a meditation practice. I feel like meditation allows me to see my thoughts and feelings arise without attaching myself to them," Waller said. I have negative thoughts that come in; I have emotions that I would not like to have, but I have to feel them. Meditation gives me a choice. It allows me to be present and come back when my mind is distracted by 80,000 people going crazy." 

Waller also shared a special exercise someone once presented to him.

"Somebody gave me this one year left to live exercise, and it’s about what you would do and what would change," he said. 

"Keeping that in mind means I’m not guaranteed a long career, a certain number of snaps or balls. What I do with the one that is coming, what I do with the opportunities I do have, is going to be indicative of the opportunities to come.”

After the workout concluded, Waller presented the young tight ends with two books that he has read and believes have been instrumental in his ability to overcome obstacles in his life and achieve success on the field: 10% Happier by Dan Harris and Think Like A Monk by Jay Shetty.   

“It just brings a sense of purpose and cultivates peace in your life,” Waller said of the books' messages. You guys are about to step into another level of this industry. You guys are used to high performance and high pressure. It's going to keep getting bigger, with more distractions, more things that could rob you of your attention and make you more stressed than you are at peace.”

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