Darren Waller

The New York Giants are acquiring Darren Waller in a trade with the Las Vegas Raiders, sources told ESPN.

Backup tight end [Foster Moreau](https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/3843945/foster-moreau) played well last season in spot duty replacing Waller, but he is scheduled to hit free agency, leaving Las Vegas with [Jesper Horsted](https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/3940587/jesper-horsted) and [Cole Fotheringham](https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/4361008/cole-fotheringham) as the only tight ends currently under contract. New York is expected to utilize a lot of two-tight-end formations featuring Waller and But Schoen found an innovative way to improve the receiving corps with Tuesday's trade, which perhaps was necessary because of what is considered a weak group of wide receivers in free agency. [Marcedes Lewis](https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/9614/marcedes-lewis), according to Schefter. [Jakobi Meyers](https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/3916433/jakobi-meyers), who joins a receiving corps that already includes [Davante Adams](https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/16800/davante-adams) and [Hunter Renfrow](https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/3135321/hunter-renfrow). Waller had back-to-back seasons of over 1,000 receiving yards in 2019 and 2020 but has been plagued by multiple injuries over the past two seasons, appearing in just 20 total games over that span. [Travis Kelce](https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/15847/travis-kelce) and [Mark Andrews](https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/3116365/mark-andrews). [Daniel Bellinger](https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/4361516/daniel-bellinger), a fourth-round pick last year, at the position. [Darius Slayton](https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/3916945/darius-slayton), who finished with 724 yards. [Kadarius Toney](https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/4240600/kadarius-toney) to Kansas City. [Daniel Jones](https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/3917792/daniel-jones) with an established veteran target in the passing game. [New York Giants](/nfl/team/_/name/nyg/new-york-giants) are acquiring tight end [Darren Waller](https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/2576925/darren-waller) in a trade with the [Las Vegas Raiders](/nfl/team/_/name/lv/las-vegas-raiders), sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.

The move comes on the heels of the Raiders adding Jimmy Garoppolo and Jakobi Meyers in free agency.

For the Raiders, they dump Waller's salary after seemingly filling his targets over the middle with former New England [Patriots](https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/teams/NE/new-england-patriots/) wideout [Jakobi Meyers](/nfl/players/2183835/jakobi-meyers/), whom the Raiders signed Tuesday morning to a [three-year, $33 million deal](https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/2023-nfl-free-agency-raiders-signing-former-patriots-wide-receiver-jakobi-meyers-to-three-year-33m-deal/). Safe to say 2022 NFL Coach of the Year Brian Daboll should have fun with Waller's route concepts. Waller could also help unlock Jones' deep ball since he had seven catches of 20 or more yards downfield, the most among all tight ends last season despite missing eight games. [Giants](https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/teams/NYG/new-york-giants/) may have is Waller's injury history that has emerged across the last two seasons, 2021 and 2022. Rec. He trails only the last two First-Team All-Pro tight ends -- Kansas City's The Giants were also one of the top 10 red zone offenses in the NFL a year ago, converting 63.3% of their red zone drives into touchdowns -- the seventh-highest rate in the NFL -- despite not having a go-to big body like Waller's 6-foot-6, 255-pound frame to throw it up to. The Raiders will receive the [Kansas City Chiefs](https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/teams/KC/kansas-city-chiefs/)' third-round compensatory pick -- the 100th overall selection-- which will come at the end of the second day of the 2023 [NFL Draft](/nfl/draft/). Rec./Season

The New York Giants have traded for Las Vegas Raiders tight end Darren Waller. New York has acquired another weapon for quarterback Daniel Jones.

Considering Waller is one of the better tight ends in football when healthy, this trade is a win for New York. The financial aspect of this trade likely signal why the Raiders would be willing to part with a player as talented as Waller in the first place. Jones signed a four-year, $160 million extensions (with plenty of provisions from New York’s perspective) that will keep him tied to the organization for years to come.

Giants general manager Joe Schoen has been keeping busy the first few days of free agency, and on Tuesday he made another sizable addition. This time via a.

He got a job stocking shelves at a grocery store and worked to be reinstated by the NFL. Waller, who has been open about his struggle with drug addiction that dates back before his college days at Georgia Tech, used the year away from football to finally enter himself into a rehab facility and work to “become a different person.” This will ensure the financial flexibility that Schoen has preached for much of the offseason.

Waller, who will be 31 in September, is under contract for four more seasons. After the 2023 season, though, there is no more guaranteed money on Waller's deal.

The price — a third-round compensatory pick (No. On the field, when healthy Waller should be an outstanding addition. Waller has four years left on his contract, but no guaranteed money after the 2023 season. Waller is really good, but the injuries are mounting and he will be 31. Look at the contract chart from Over The Cap above, and there would be very little dead money should the Giants move on after the upcoming season. For Las Vegas last season, he lined up in the slot 191 times, inline 91 times, as a wide receiver 59 times and in the backfield three times. The timing is only interesting because Josh McDaniels accidentally leaked the news of his wedding to reporters at the NFL Scouting Combine. The Giants will be responsible for roughly $11.9 million of that. In essence, the Giants are swapping Toney for Waller. He has 298 receptions for 3,572 yards and 19 touchdowns over seven seasons with the Baltimore Ravens and the Raiders. 100 overall) that they got from the In 2022, Waller played in only nine games, missing time with a hamstring injury.

BOSTON -- Perhaps the biggest move in the NFL on Tuesday was not a free-agent signing but rather a trade, as the Raiders sent star tight end Darren Waller ...

"The couple had not publicly announced their plans to get married." For a player who was a Pro Bowler in 2020, that's an awfully low return. Tafur didn't specify that the spat between Waller and McDaniels was the primary reason for the trade, but he noted that the timing was "interesting."

The move comes on the heels of the Raiders adding Jimmy Garoppolo and Jakobi Meyers in free agency.

For the Raiders, they dump Waller's salary after seemingly filling his targets over the middle with former New England [Patriots](https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/teams/NE/new-england-patriots/) wideout [Jakobi Meyers](/nfl/players/2183835/jakobi-meyers/), whom the Raiders signed Tuesday morning to a [three-year, $33 million deal](https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/2023-nfl-free-agency-raiders-signing-former-patriots-wide-receiver-jakobi-meyers-to-three-year-33m-deal/). Safe to say 2022 NFL Coach of the Year Brian Daboll should have fun with Waller's route concepts. Waller could also help unlock Jones' deep ball since he had seven catches of 20 or more yards downfield, the most among all tight ends last season despite missing eight games. [Giants](https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/teams/NYG/new-york-giants/) may have is Waller's injury history that has emerged across the last two seasons, 2021 and 2022. Rec. He trails only the last two First-Team All-Pro tight ends -- Kansas City's The Giants were also one of the top 10 red zone offenses in the NFL a year ago, converting 63.3% of their red zone drives into touchdowns -- the seventh-highest rate in the NFL -- despite not having a go-to big body like Waller's 6-foot-6, 255-pound frame to throw it up to. The Raiders will receive the [Kansas City Chiefs](https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/teams/KC/kansas-city-chiefs/)' third-round compensatory pick -- the 100th overall selection-- which will come at the end of the second day of the 2023 [NFL Draft](/nfl/draft/). Rec./Season

Las Vegas received New York's third-round pick (No. 100) in the 2023 NFL Draft in return for Waller. · The Raiders cleared $11.38 million in cap space and ...

[NFL](https://theathletic.com/nfl/) Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. [the Raiders’ move to sign receiver Jakobi Meyers](https://theathletic.com/4307654/2023/03/14/jakobi-meyers-raiders/) on Monday. The structure of the deal made it easy for them to move on, and his mixture of unavailability and lackluster play in 2022 didn’t give them much reason to close the door on doing so. And, zooming out to the rest of the roster, the Raiders should have about $25 million to $27 million in active cap space after trading Waller. 100) in the 2023 NFL Draft in return for Waller. While Jones developed a lot more this season under the new coaching staff and looked much more comfortable in the pocket as the season ended, one of the biggest arguments for his hindered progress was lacking a supporting cast offensively.

What a strange (but fascinating!) deal in the middle of NFL free agency Day 2. After giving Daniel Jones an, er, necessary contract extension last week, ...

Suddenly, a balanced receiving corps of Meyers, Davante Adams, and Hunter Renfrow has a bit of intrigue. So, I don’t love acquiring Waller, but it won’t hurt them in the long run. And at age 30, it’ll probably be harder for him to return to a higher standard of play. However, it’s been two years since we saw the star version of Waller. On a Giants team that previously had the league’s worst collection of pass catchers, Waller will likely immediately ascend to be the top option. His 197 catches and 12 touchdowns from 2019-2020 proved as much.

While the Raiders move on from one-time Pro Bowl tight end Darren Waller before turns 31 to save big money toward the 2023 NFL salary cap, the Giants reach ...

[Best players available](https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/news/nfl-free-agent-rankings-2023-best-players-available/lpoteueqyynhbsbia7mwgrwa) McDaniels can simply pivot to more dynamic 11 personnel (three wide receivers) with Meyers in the mix, or GM Dave Ziegler and Raiders could also target a tight end in a deep draft for the position as early as taking Notre Dame's Michael Mayer at No. Waller will be 31 in September right as the 2023 NFL season starts. [Live tracker](https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/news/nfl-free-agency-tracker-2023-live-news-signings-rumors/zay1qbzhkfhx3ixpx7eyatov) He was hamstrung for much of last year going back the offseason in July and landed on IR, playing only 9 games. Following their decision to reunite Garoppolo and Meyers with offensive-minded coach Josh McDaniels in free agency, they decided to move on from tight end Darren Waller — the former go-to guy of their former top QB, Derek Carr.

Darren Waller made the Pro Bowl in 2020 but was limited by injuries the last two years.

Two trades largely overshadowed Tuesday's free-agent news, and there are potential deals being discussed involving Ekeler and Aaron Rodgers.

[Jordan Love](https://theathletic.com/nfl/player/jordan-love-hKoINpSJMsyZAYt3/) is a lot better than we all think he is. The Lions are returning all their key coaches, and the Vikings are an [extremely happy](https://nflpa.com/minnesota-vikings-report-card) team. If they were to bolster their backfield — with Devin Singletary likely gone — then free-agent [Jamaal Williams](https://theathletic.com/nfl/player/jamaal-williams-yiuEdPRfziuCcAfe/) is more palatable than parting with draft assets. [Kansas City](https://theathletic.com/nfl/team/chiefs/) when Waller was active but sat out the game. Even though the Giants made the playoffs last year, [Daniel Jones](https://theathletic.com/nfl/player/daniel-jones-OeqLvbJNbGyXeJqu/) needs more weapons to make a legitimate Super Bowl run. [Bills’](https://theathletic.com/nfl/team/bills/) offense comprehensive, but just last year they drafted [James Cook](https://theathletic.com/nfl/player/james-cook-yynfZqHDAdhkOwK4/) in the second round and traded for Nyheim Hines. [Aaron Rodgers](https://theathletic.com/nfl/player/aaron-rodgers-jcxErAcw3SOmBLdo/) has yet to announce whether he plans to leave the [Packers](https://theathletic.com/nfl/team/packers/) for the [Jets](https://theathletic.com/nfl/team/jets/), but other players found themselves on the move Tuesday, the second day of the [NFL](https://theathletic.com/nfl/)’s legal tampering period. Poles is clearly enjoying himself in this role of building the Bears back up, unlike last year when he took over with plenty of restrictions and had to shed a bunch of expensive veteran contracts. [Kadarius Toney](https://theathletic.com/nfl/player/kadarius-toney-BSKlIouLvUAvaGy7/), so Schoen flipped a disappointing Dave Gettleman first-rounder (who, granted, has played better in Kansas City) for a unicorn. [Daniel Bellinger](https://theathletic.com/nfl/player/daniel-bellinger-xceBk8g1yWAazwKs/) was their top tight end with just 30 catches for 238 yards and two touchdowns. [NFLPA report cards](https://theathletic.com/4265631/2023/03/01/nflpa-player-survey-results-commanders/) specifically called out coach Josh McDaniels and his staff as the Raiders’ lowest-graded category. The report card raved about Las Vegas’ facility but said this about McDaniels: “Player respondents felt that head coach Josh McDaniels is less likely to listen to his players and keeps them for longer hours than other head coaches around the league.” The Athletic’s Vic Tafur also reported that Waller was mad at McDaniels for leaking the date of his wedding.

Darren Waller made the Pro Bowl in 2020 but was limited by injuries the last two years.

The Aces star proposed a possible reason why the Raiders traded away her husband on Tuesday.

Following the Giants move to acquire tight end Darren Waller, here are two bold predictions for the team in 2023.

With Waller joining the offense, he now has a pass catcher that can do this with ease. In 2022, rookie tight end Daniel Bellinger was a true threat, specifically in the red zone. Darren Waller has struggled with injuries over the past two seasons, but when healthy he has still found success. Daniel Jones has shown throughout his career that he can push the ball down the field. In order to obtain Darren Waller, the Giants sent the Raiders a third-round pick in the 2023 NFL draft. Although Darren Waller was drafted in the sixth round of the 2015 NFL draft, he didn’t undergo his breakout campaign until 2019. Over the past four seasons, Waller has appeared in 52 total games. Now with the arrival of Darren Waller, opposing defenses will be forced to take some of the attention off of Barkley. In recent years, the Giants offense has lacked elite talent down the field. It appears that coach of the year Brian Daboll, and the rest of the organization liked what they saw from the team in 2022. [season](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BarkSa00.htm) recording 1,312 rushing yards, the most of his NFL career. Instead, to the shock of many, they traded for Las Vegas Raiders star tight end, [Darren Waller](https://clutchpoints.com/giants-news-new-york-finalizing-blockbuster-trade-for-raiders-darren-waller).

Two people familiar with the deal said Tuesday that tight end Darren Waller is being traded to the New York Giants.

Trading Waller allows the Raiders to free up about $11 million in salary cap space. He was the backup to Saquon Barkley. The trade for Waller, 30, is an effort to boost the Giants’ offensive talent around Jones, who last season passed for 3,205 yards and 15 touchdowns with five interceptions. Now the Raiders’ offense includes quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, running back Josh Jacobs and receivers Davante Adams, Hunter Renfrow and Meyers. For the Raiders, their acquisition of wide receiver Jakobi Meyers on Tuesday helped make Waller expendable. They spoke to The AP on condition of anonymity because the trade has not been announced.

New York sent back to Las Vegas the 100th pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapaport. The Giants acquired that third-round compensatory ...

The Giants acquired that third-round compensatory pick when they traded wide receiver Kadarius Toney to the Chiefs last November. The only major signing that the Giants have reportedly agreed to so far is a four-year, $40 million deal for former Colts linebacker Bobby Okereke, who was a third-round pick in 2019. The Giants also got a 2023 sixth-round pick from Kansas City in that trade and still have 10 picks overall in the upcoming draft.

Plum and Waller were Las Vegas' latest power couple after they tied the knot March 4 but Waller's cross-country trade quickly ended their reign.

He signed a [three-year, $51 million contract extension](/nfl/story/_/id/34561590/las-vegas-raiders-te-darren-waller-agree-3-year-extension) in September that made him the [league's highest-paid tight end](/nfl/story/_/id/34096853/highest-paid-nfl-players-tracking-most-money-guaranteed-per-year-every-position). The franchise relocated to Las Vegas and his hot streak continued with career highs in receptions (107), receiving yards (1,196) and touchdowns (nine). 100 overall) to the Raiders for the 2020 Pro Bowler.

Las Vegas Aces guard Kelsey Plum had a savage response about why the Raiders traded her husband, Pro Bowl tight end Darren Waller to the Giants on Tuesday.

Prior to the trade, The [Las Vegas Aces guard](https://nypost.com/2023/03/14/darren-waller-giants-trade-could-be-tied-to-his-kelsey-plum-wedding/) had a savage response about why the Raiders traded her husband, Pro Bowl tight end [Darren Waller, to the Giants](https://nypost.com/2023/03/14/giants-trade-for-raiders-tight-end-darren-waller/) on Tuesday.

The timing of this move only added to the criticism.

The New York Giants' acquisition of TE Darren Waller has been met with mixed reviews and a couple lower-than-expected grades.

Those underlying metrics can help the Giants justify their acquisition, but at a price of only a late third-round pick, Waller doesn’t require much justification. Again the big if—if Waller stays healthy. They think the Raiders got a much better deal. So, I don’t love acquiring Waller, but it won’t hurt them in the long run. New York went after Waller, who showed flashes of his previous production in 2022, even if his season-end receiving totals (28-388-3) weren’t all that impressive. New York will hope flashes of the 2020 Pro Bowl Waller will give it some good returns for Daniel Jones. His 2.42 yards per route run in 2019 and 2.28 in 2020 ranked fourth and second, respectively, at the position. Lots more success occurred across the board to be brief. The issue I take with the move is there was a better option out there for the Giants — for less. Daniel Jones needed a true go-to guy to evolve as a passer. In fact, the Raiders took it. But some others on the national stage didn’t necessarily see it that way and their grades reflected that.

The Giants' pass-catching group is receiving a much-needed top option.

Just like McDaniels and the Raiders [replaced Carr with](https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/2023-nfl-free-agency-raiders-to-sign-jimmy-garoppolo-as-qb-exits-49ers-after-six-seasons/) [Jimmy Garoppolo](/nfl/players/1760229/jimmy-garoppolo/), they have replaced Waller with Meyers. Last year's NFL rushing champion and Raiders running back [Josh Jacobs](/nfl/players/2257876/josh-jacobs/) [also has his doubts](https://twitter.com/iAM_JoshJacobs/status/1635708591372922880?s=20). [The Athletic](https://twitter.com/VicTafur/status/1635722131794464768), Waller was upset with head coach Josh McDaniels for accidentally giving out the news that the tight end was marrying WNBA All-Star and Las Vegas Aces guard Kelsey Plum when speaking at the NFL Scouting Combine. [Saints](https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/teams/NO/new-orleans-saints/) quarterback [Derek Carr](/nfl/players/1664819/derek-carr/) had philosophical differences they couldn't reconcile in terms of how to run an offense and who had ultimate control of play-calling and audibles, [according to Derek's older brother, David](https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/derek-carrs-brother-reveals-new-details-about-raiders-split-says-qb-had-great-visit-with-jets/) -- a former QB who was the first overall pick of the 2002 NFL Draft by the [Houston Texans](https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/teams/HOU/houston-texans/). [Josh Allen](/nfl/players/2181054/josh-allen/), Dolphins quarterback [Tua Tagovailoa](/nfl/players/2741209/tua-tagovailoa/) and Eagles quarterback [Jalen Hurts](/nfl/players/2240246/jalen-hurts/) all were given their own Pro Bowl-level top targets. [Isaiah Hodgins](/nfl/players/2783899/isaiah-hodgins/), [Sterling Shepard](/nfl/players/1996786/sterling-shepard/) and [Wan'Dale Robinson](/nfl/players/3124107/wandale-robinson/), plus tight end [Daniel Bellinger](/nfl/players/2963615/daniel-bellinger/), [New York Giants](https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/teams/NYG/new-york-giants/) general manger Joe Schoen realized he needed to do something to give his new $160 million quarterback [Daniel Jones](/nfl/players/2179245/daniel-jones/) a Pro Bowl-caliber playmaker. The Giants acquired the selection by sending their former first-round pick, wide receiver [Kadarius Toney](/nfl/players/2767487/kadarius-toney/), to the Chiefs during the 2022 season, so in short the G-Men traded Toney for Waller. One, the on-field reasons: Waller is turning 31 in September and has missed a combined 14 games across the last two seasons with a few different injuries. The Giants were also one of the top 10 red zone offenses in the NFL a year ago, converting 63.3% of their red zone drives into touchdowns -- the seventh-highest rate in the NFL -- despite not having a go-to, big body like Waller's to throw it up to. Meyers, 26, is a cheaper contract at three years, $33 million versus the three-year, $51 million extension the team gave Waller prior to Week 1 of the 2022 season. Brown](/nfl/players/2258303/a-j-brown/) via trade) and made a trade to [land a Pro Bowl pass-catcher](https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/darren-waller-trade-giants-raiders-strike-deal-that-sends-pro-bowl-te-to-new-york-for-third-round-pick/) for Jones in former [Las Vegas Raiders](https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/teams/LV/las-vegas-raiders/) tight end [Darren Waller](/nfl/players/1850793/darren-waller/). The 6-6, 255-pound pass-catcher could also help unlock Jones' deep passing game since he had seven catches of 20 or more yards downfield, the most among all tight ends last season despite missing eight games with injuries.

After Darren Waller was traded to the New York Giants, Waller's wife, Kelsey Plum, made a pointed comment at Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels.

The swooning romantics around the league are rooting for Waller and Plum to make their long-distance marriage work. That was the first part of the cookie to crumble. [The Darren Waller trade](https://fansided.com/2023/03/14/nfl-trade-grades-giants-raiders-darren-waller/) sparked excitement in the Tri-State area considering how little the [New York Giants](https://fansided.com/nfl/teams/new-york-giants/) had to give up for the star tight end.

Waller's 107 receptions in 2020 are tied for fourth-most by a tight end in NFL history.

He's seen me in moments where I was getting my foot back in the door and just trying to be consistent and be reliable as a member of the practice squad and the organization. But I'm excited to have him be in my corner, have him help me elevate my game and all the games of tight ends in the room. And messages like that just keep me centered in knowing that if I'm handling each and every moment like that moment in the future that I want to happen, that success that the team wants to go for, I want to go, it's going to be a present moment when it comes. He was in Baltimore before I got suspended and after I got reinstated and got to be on the practice squad there. So, I'm grateful to have her support, and we're going to do whatever it takes to remain strong together whatever the distance looks like, the timing of it. And trying to just say goodbyes to Las Vegas people and get introduced to people with the Giants." So, it's a matter of just staying even, staying in that place of equanimity and riding it out." He was drafted as a wide receiver, the position he played in college, before moving to tight end in his second season. "Probably around 11 a.m., I got a call from the general manager of the Raiders (Dave Ziegler), and he was just letting me know that I was going to be traded. And we just kind of reflected on the last season with the Raiders and just expressing respect for one another and what we did to try to make it work. So, to see him and how he gets everybody involved and the creativity in which he does that, I'm excited to just be in the mix and be a part of what this offense is going to try to do." "With Dabs, just seeing him from when he was in Buffalo, you just see a high-octane offense," Waller said.

FILE – Las Vegas Raiders tight end Darren Waller runs into the end zone to score on a 24-yard touchdown pass during the first half of an NFL football game ...

I’m excited to get in the mix with this offense.” His goal in preparing for the 2023 season with the Giants is to pace himself, ensuring that he’ll be “peaking at the right time,” rather than training too hard and showing up to camp “exhausted,” as he did the previous three years. and go where everybody knows this team can go.” “I believe wholeheartedly in myself,” he said. I really respect that,” Waller said of his new teammates. It was frustrating for sure but in those moments, I learned a lot about myself.”

The start of the new league year led to a flurry of announcements from teams formalizing moves that were agreed to in the last few days, including the trade ...

Waller told reporters on Wednesday that the move “caught me off guard.” Waller also said that he’s healthy now and sees the pieces of a “high octane” offense in place with the Giants, who will be hoping Waller remains healthy and a major piece of that unit in 2023. The start of the new league year led to a flurry of announcements from teams formalizing moves that were agreed to in the last few days, including the trade between the Giants and Raiders that brought tight end