The New York Giants thought they had their tight end situation solved when they traded for former Pro Bowler Darren Waller last March.
The 2023 season was not Waller’s best by far. The 31 year-old was once again felled by the injury bug, missing the better part of five games with a hamstring issue.
This season is opening with Waller still undecided on whether he will retire from football or give it one more go. As the NFL draft looms, the Giants remain in the dark.
“I talked to his agent,” general manager Joe Schoen said this week. “Darren is going to take time and make his decision. He’s still undecided. I’m not going to get into the details. I’ve talked to him. He is undecided.”
But the Giants have not exactly been sitting on their hands. They recently signed two veterans in free agency (Jack Stoll and Chris Manhertz) and appear to be preparing financially for a season without Waller.
Safe to assume Giants operating on assumption that Darren Waller isn't part of the 2024 plan. Due a non-guaranteed $11.625M currently in 2024. Giants can release Waller Post June 1st & save $11.625M against the Cap. Certainly not back at that price tag.
— Chad Forbes (@NFLDraftBites) March 26, 2024
The Giants have not met with any tight end prospects in the upcoming NFL draft as far as we know. Their tight ends room heading into camp without Waller would be Daniel Bellinger, Stoll, Manhertz, Tyree Jackson, and possibly Lawrence Cager.
Schoen did not rule out adding a tight end between now and the beginning of the season.
“We’re excited about those guys,” Schoen said of Stoll and Manhertz. “We still have the draft. We don’t play until September. You just have to be patient.”
“There’s ways to acquire players throughout the process,” he continued. “We did it with Jason Pinnock. We got him at the final cutdown. There’s different times of the year when you can acquire players, and we’re going to give Darren his time and I’m going to keep mine and Darren’s conversations between us. But we’re looking forward to the players that are going to be there in April, and we’ll keep building.”
In the meanwhile, Waller will be given as much time as he needs to make his decision, but you know the old saying about retirement: If you’re entertaining it, you’re likely going to do it.
