It was already objectively absurd that the New York Giants managed to trade a retired tight end for anything. That alone probably earned Joe Schoen a little longer of a leash. But now we’ve got the actual condition on the conditional pick New York included, and somehow this deal might look even better in hindsight.
Per The Athletic’s Dan Duggan: “The seventh-round conditional pick the Giants will send the Dolphins is based on Waller having 50+ catches, per source. If Waller doesn’t catch 50 passes this season, the Giants send their 2027 seventh-round pick to Miami.”
So, to recap: the Giants traded a retired player and only owe a seventh-round pick if Waller doesn’t hit 50 catches this season. If he does, they keep the pick. Either way, they’ve already locked in a 2026 sixth-rounder from Miami, which is crazy in its own right.
Giants’ pick-swap conditions make an absurd trade even better
From Miami’s side, the bet here is that Waller can step in and fill the void left by Jonnu Smith, who just posted a career year in Mike McDaniel’s offense with 88 catches, 884 yards, and 8 touchdowns before being dealt to Pittsburgh.
Related: Dolphins immediately show regret after shocking Darren Waller gamble
The Dolphins saw how valuable a dynamic tight end can be in their scheme, and Waller, at his peak, was one of the most dangerous in the league. But that version of him hasn’t been seen in a long time.
Waller’s final season with Big Blue ended with 52 catches in 12 games, solid on paper, but far from what New York was expecting when they sent a third-round pick to Vegas for him. Injuries were a factor... again. And apparently, so was his role.
Waller later admitted he was mentally checked out midseason and described one game against the Bills as the moment he realized he didn’t want to play anymore, citing frustration with being used like a fullback and not being featured the way he wanted.
Former Giants great Plaxico Burress didn’t mince words about it, either. He blamed Brian Daboll and the offense, saying Waller “didn’t want to be in New York playing for Brian Daboll” and was frustrated with being misused.
The Giants never took advantage of his abilities (for several reasons), and he looked out of place from the beginning.
Now, in Miami, the setup is a bit different. Waller gets a quarterback still looking to figure it out and a wide-open tight end depth chart.
If he’s healthy and engaged (two big "ifs"), the opportunity is real. But given the Dolphins were sniffing around Noah Fant, just weeks after making this trade, it’s fair to wonder how confident they really are in the oft-injured 32-year-old. Either way, the G-Men are walking away from it with draft capital, while Miami is banking on a semi-magical turn back of the clock. And it's on Schoen to make the trade even more lopsided by nailing the sixth-rounder next draft.