The NY Giants sure are operating like a team that is not expecting Darren Waller to play a single down of football for them in 2024. If not for the moves they made in free agency, then the team’s selection in the 2024 NFL Draft has a lot of people convinced.
In the fourth round of the draft, the Giants, with the No. 107 pick, selected Theo Johnson from Penn State. Many felt the Giants would take either a running back or possibly Spencer Rattler with him still on the board. Yet, the Giants decided to address their need for a potential replacement for Waller, pending that he does retire, as he has still not made a decision on his future.
Happy Valley ➡️ Big Apple pic.twitter.com/sLEKfuIUty
— New York Giants (@Giants) April 27, 2024
The NY Giants drafted Theo Johnson in the fourth round of the NFL Draft
However, with the selection of Johnson, who had 11 touchdown catches in his last two seasons at Penn State and had 341 yards and seven touchdowns in 2023, it likely signals the end of Waller’s time with the G-Men, with retirement feeling quite likely. This is what plenty of Giants feel is coming for the former Pro Bowler:
Joe Schoen: “so Darren we were wondering if you were retiring or not we need to know it’s very import-.”
— 𝘑𝘢𝘺𝘘𝘶𝘢𝘥𝘴🥷🏿🗽 (@DimesJayy) April 27, 2024
Darren Waller: pic.twitter.com/BxJLInYjqX
Darren Waller is 100% retiring
— Yankee Mandela (@YankeeMandela) April 27, 2024
Good luck in your retirement Darren Waller (what the Giants are saying likely with this pick)
— BigBlueVCR (@BigBlueVCR) April 27, 2024
Darren Waller is retiring https://t.co/4YNuhCkLAY
— 𝙻̷𝚞̷𝚜̷ 📯 (@Theylovelus) April 27, 2024
NFL network just said Darren Waller is probably retiring which means we’re gonna get some of the worst rap TikToks you could ever dream of this year
— Ashtyn Butuso (@lil_buts) April 27, 2024
darren waller’s replacement. welcome theo johnson!
— amirah ⚔️ (3-1) (@vhslore) April 27, 2024
Waller was acquired just one offseason ago by the Giants in a trade with the Las Vegas Raiders for a 2023 third-round pick, which the Giants got in part of the Kadarius Toney deal with the Chiefs. Waller ended up being more productive in his shortened season for the Giants than Toney ever was in two campaigns, but many people expected more from Waller.
In 12 games, Waller had 52 receptions for 552 yards and only one touchdown. Waller missed significant time in the second half of the season with a hamstring injury. With the constant hamstring injuries, plus Waller saying his heart may not be at 100 percent to play, it’s not a shock that the veteran TE might be hanging it up. With that said, the Giants couldn’t afford to wait too much longer, as Johnson is now in the team’s plans for 2024 and beyond, even if Waller is not.