It's the part of the NFL offseason when not much is happening, as every team prepares for the start of training camp later this month. That is apparently not entirely the case with a few teams, like the Steelers and Dolphins, who pulled off a massive trade sending cornerback Jalen Ramsey and tight end Jonnu Smith to Pittsburgh for safety Minkah Fitzpatrick to return to Miami.
But they aren't the only ones involved in some craziness this week, as the Giants have now found themselves trading retired tight end and short-lived musician Darren Waller to the Dolphins, presumably due to shipping off Smith yesterday.
Other than the obvious bizarre nature of the trade, Waller's decision to come out of retirement to join the Dolphins is beyond comprehension. He abruptly decided to retire after the 2023 season, citing a desire to pursue a music career, which immediately created a problem for the Giants' offense.
Unsurprisingly, that doesn't appear to have been successful, and instead of returning to the team that traded for him, he is going to perhaps the worst-built team in the AFC.
Darren Waller chooses chaos over a rebuild in return to the NFL
While the Giants might not appear to be a desirable place to be at the moment, they're in a much better position than the Dolphins, simply due to their foundation for the rebuild. They have the future at quarterback in Jaxson Dart, a top-5 defensive line, and a breakout candidate wide receiver in Malik Nabers.
That could easily be something Waller should want to be a part of, especially since he left the team hanging with his abrupt retirement. He could have made things a little better by deciding to return to New York, but instead, he will be headed to Miami in a desperate move by Mike McDaniel and Co.
Over the years, tight ends haven't exactly thrived with the Dolphins, with the 2024 season being a recent exception. Jonnu Smith had a career year, which led to him being traded. Waller will now step into that role and hope to become a highly targeted weapon for Tua Tagovailoa, but with a season away from the game and an underwhelming last stint in the league, it doesn't look too promising that Waller will be able to replicate Smith's production.
Could this mean that there was more to his retirement than just wanting to pursue a new career path? It seems to point to more drama behind the scenes that ultimately led to that decision. Or does Waller not believe in what the Giants are trying to build moving forward?
Regardless, they're the winners of the trade because they received two draft picks in return, which will inevitably help them continue their efforts to accomplish their future goals. And now, Giants fans can laugh all the way to the bank about it.
