The New York Giants' Darren Waller question was answered when the veteran tight end retired. Although he didn’t have a great season in 2023 and things weren’t looking much better in 2024, the G-Men are down a target for Daniel Jones heading into minicamp.
Waller cited a very scary health emergency as his reason for retiring. He walks away from the game with one Pro Bowl appearance under his belt and now leaves the Giants with a little bit of uncertainty. Although Malik Nabers is in place to be the new top option, New York's receiving options are pretty unproven. Without Saquon Barkley, there’s a lack of explosive playmaking outside of the rookie out of LSU.
Brian Daboll said that he and Waller spoke recently. He said that the team wishes Waller well and is going to move on with business as usual now.
Brian Daboll spoke with Darren Waller yesterday in light of his retirement decision and wishes him well
“The first thing with Darren is my concern for him as more of a person than anything,” the Giants head coach said. “I'm glad he's doing well. Spoke to him yesterday. Communicated [with] him throughout the offseason. That was the decision. We were going to respect his decision, give him as much time as he needed. Wish him well, here for him if he needs anything. That’s what happens in the NFL sometimes.”
Daboll also said that he isn’t ruling out a notable signing with the cap space that Waller's retirement opened up, according to Connor Hughes of SNY. New York saved over $11 million in cap space and has some extra wiggle room now.
Giants looking for other options at tight end after Darren Waller retirement
Daniel Bellinger is in line to have a big role in the offense unless New York makes a move for another big-name TE. The third-year player out of San Diego State has recorded 55 catches, 523 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns so far in his NFL career. It would benefit New York to have other decent targets.
Noah Togiai and Geor’quarius Spivey are trying out for the Giants at their minicamp practice on Tuesday, according to Ralph Vacciano of FOX Sports. The former spent the last three seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles, playing just 43 snaps, while the latter is a rookie out of Mississippi State.
If the Giants want a veteran option, they could sign Geoff Swaim, Tyler Kroft, David Wells or a number of other TEs with years of NFL experience. It probably wouldn’t cost them more than the minimum to bring them in.
