Giants’ Daniel Bellinger Is Glad With The New Addition Darren Waller, Calls Him A ‘Unicorn’

When healthy, tight end Darren Waller is among the finest in the league; nevertheless, the New York Giants haven’t forgotten about Daniel Bellinger.

Giants’ Daniel Bellinger Is Glad With The New Addition Darren Waller, Calls Him A ‘Unicorn’

In his first season, the 22-year-old Bellinger made an unexpected contribution. In a victory against the Jaguars in Week 7, he caught 30 passes on 35 targets for 268 receiving yards and three touchdowns, one of which was a rushing touchdown on a trick play, after missing five games due to a rare eye injury.

The first five questions posed to Daniel Bellinger the other day were more concerned with what Darren Waller may do in his first season with the Giants than with what the rookie tight end might accomplish in his second with the organization.

Bellinger hasn’t been afraid to ask his new teammate questions, and he’s been more than willing to share his knowledge.


All the time, yeah,’’ he said. “He’s a unicorn player. Watching him be able to do what he does, even at his age, it’s amazing. Definitely a lot of ‘wow’ moments with Darren.’’

Bellinger is not being replaced or having his role diminished by the addition of an established star like Waller, despite the fact that this would typically be the case, as the Giants intend to use both in 12- and 13-personnel packages, which have been utilized more frequently in training camp through six practices.


Bellinger, who stands 6 feet 6 inches and weighs 255 pounds, was a competent and developing run blocker who, ranked as the 15th-best tight end in the league in that particular position.

Bellinger also had amazing fortitude in overcoming a horrible injury.

It didn’t take a football genius to predict the newcomer’s towering stature and athletic prowess would make him a ball magnet and draw Jones’ attention.

This must translate into less passing game possibilities for Bellinger.

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“I don’t really think of it like that,’’ Bellinger said. “What Darren does opens up for everybody, not just in the tight end room, but in the receiving room and it opens up everything all together. So, I wouldn’t say I think about the targets or the passes or whatever that is. I think of it as just what’s going to help the team the best, what’s going to put us in the best position to win. I think Darren does a great job for us and for myself.”

“He’s a great guy,’’ Bellinger said. “That was the biggest thing for me, just being able to just talk to him as a person. I think he’s been helping me a lot and helping everybody. He’s a good guy all around.’’

Bellinger stated that he wants to enter the field in his second season with greater assurance than he had in his first.

He acknowledged that he needed to be more in control of the overall attack rather than just his part in the system.

“I definitely have more confidence now,’’ Bellinger said. “I feel more confident being able to read a defense as well, and just different kinds of small things that I was so hyper focused on last year that now I can really sit back and be like, ‘OK, I got this, I got that.’

“I still have to make sure I’m good at those things but being able to focus on bigger picture things as well.’’

Bellinger didn’t seem that concerned about Waller’s arrival taking away his position on the squad. Bellinger has added to the role he played as a rookie last year by playing some snaps as a fullback and an H-back in addition to the regular tight end position.

 

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