Darren Waller Is Ready To Be Back After Contemplating Retirement

Darren Waller made his NFL debut with the New York Giants in 2023. It was nearly his last. The New York Post reports that the Pro Bowl tight end considered retiring right after the season, but he is now determined to play again in 2024.

Darren Waller Is Ready To Be Back After Contemplating Retirement

A year ago, Waller, then thirty-one, was one of New York’s best offseason pickups. He was acquired via trade for a third-round draft selection. But for a third consecutive season, injuries hampered his play, and he confided to several within the Giants organization that he was thinking about putting up his cleats.

His first season on the team did not go as expected; he only had one touchdown reception and was injured once again.

The 31-year-old tight end seems to have considered it was time to bid adieu to the NFL. Last year, Waller released his second rap album, “Walking Miracle.’’

After missing significant time from both seasons due to hamstring issues, Waller was moved to the Giants, where he missed five additional games in his rookie year.

There was some talk that the Giants would cut him after June 1 because he has no guaranteed money left on his deal and doing so would save up more than $11 million. Without a player who can’t stay on the field, that talk might fade.

Near the close of the regular season, Waller announced that he intended to use this summer to focus on techniques to prevent hamstring problems, which had affected him so much that he was discussing retirement with others. This is the fourth consecutive year that Waller has experienced these problems. That is no longer on his mind.

Thanks to a three-year contract extension he first signed with the Las Vegas Raiders, which is due for $14 million this coming season, Waller is officially under contract through 2026.

Waller has been one of the most reliable pass catchers at his position in the NFL when he is available. He played five years with the Raiders, twice surpassing 90 catches and 1,000 yards as one of the team’s top receivers, before recording 52 grabs for 552 yards in 12 games with the Giants.

It’s unclear if Waller will ever reach his salary cap hits of $15.4 million in 2025 and $17.4 million in 2026.

If Waller were released, the Giants could save $6.7 million against the cap, but Schwartz and Dunleavy pointed out the team wants him back and hopes he can be a “more robust contributor” to the offense in 2024.

How many Pro Bowls has Darren Waller been to?

Darren Waller spent eight seasons as a player with the Giants, Raiders, and Ravens. He has 20 touchdowns and 350 receptions for 4,124 yards. One Pro Bowl selection was made for him.

What was Darren Waller drafted as?

Waller was chosen by the Baltimore Ravens with the 204th overall pick in the sixth round of the 2015 NFL Draft. Rolando McClain was traded in exchange for the selection. In 2015, Waller was selected as the 27th wide receiver overall.

Is Darren Waller a good blocker?

Despite his willingness, Waller was never a superb run blocker, and it appears that aspect of his game has declined.

 

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