5 NY Giants moves Joe Schoen still has to make following the draft
2. Part ways with TE Darren Waller
Schoen and the Giants will have to evaluate veteran tight end Darren Waller's situation this offseason. The 31-year-old TE joined the team last season after five campaigns with the Las Vegas Raiders and has dealt with several injuries throughout his career. The former Pro Bowl tight end appeared in 12 games last year with the G-Men, where he had 52 receptions, 552 yards, and a touchdown, but now Waller is deciding whether or not he would like to call it a career.
The Giants have already taken action by selecting Penn State tight end Theo Johnson in the fourth round of this year's NFL Draft. The three-year starter with the Nittany Lions brings an athletic profile with great size and run-blocking abilities. Johnson also provides long-range speed and makes contested catches. The addition makes a lot of sense for the New York Giants, especially given the uncertainty surrounding Waller's future in New York.
The Giants also have Daniel Bellinger rostered, who has shown glimpses of success since joining the team in 2022. Last season, he registered 25 catches and 255 yards, and in the previous season, he had 30 receptions, 268 yards, and two touchdowns. Could the third-year tight end be next in line for a starting role with Big Blue?
The Giants also signed veteran tight end Jack Stoll this offseason, who previously played with the Philadelphia Eagles for three seasons. Well, it seems the team is preparing as if Waller will be announcing his retirement shortly. Now that the Giants have depth at the tight end position, could they just part ways with the veteran instead of waiting for him to decide on his career?
The Giants are absolutely operating like a team expecting Darren Waller to retire.
— Doug Rush (@TheDougRush) April 27, 2024
They signed two tight ends in free agency in Jack Stoll and Chris Manhertz.
They brought back Lawrence Cager.
And now with the selection of Theo Johnson in the 4th round, Waller seems like he’s… pic.twitter.com/AXBuV1Ptvn
The Giants would save about $6 million if they cut him, which they could use towards signing a veteran offensive lineman, defensive lineman, or even running back. The team has been previously linked to Kareem Hunt, a free agent after stepping in for Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb, who suffered a season-ending injury in Week 2 last season.