The New York Giants are giving Daniel Jones something he didn’t have last season: a big-play receiver.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the team acquired former Pro Bowl tight end Darren Waller from the Las Vegas Raiders on Tuesday in exchange for a draft pick.
Waller, 30, hauled in 28 passes for 388 yards and three touchdowns during an injury-riddled 2022 season. The Giants gave up a third-round draft pick to acquire Waller.
New York sees the move as a long-term solution, as Waller is under contract through the 2026 NFL season after signing a $51 million extension in 2022.
At least one current member of the Raiders doesn’t seem to be a fan of the move. Running back Josh Jacobs — who received the franchise tag in March — tweeted that he was “an officer” shortly after the trade was announced.
It’s already been an eventful offseason for Waller. In addition to the trade, Waller married Las Vegas Aces guard Kelsey Plum in early March. Later Tuesday, Plum joked that her husband was traded because he didn’t invite Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels to his wedding.
Waller was originally drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the sixth round of the 2015 NFL Draft. He failed to establish himself with the team, and was suspended multiple times under the league’s substance abuse policy. Waller missed the entire 2017 season due to drug and alcohol addiction. During this period, he went to rehab and became sober.
Waller returned to the NFL in 2018 with the Raiders. He emerged as a playmaking threat the following year, catching 90 passes for 1,145 yards and 3 scores. He was even better in 2020, catching 107 passes for 1,196 yards and nine touchdowns. This performance earned Waller his first Pro Bowl selection.
Injuries have limited Waller the past two years. He played 11 games in 2021 and nine in 2022. When healthy, Waller has been a top-of-the-line performer.