The trade of Darren Waller from the Raiders to the Giants initially seemed like a great deal, with New York giving up a third-round pick for the talented tight end. However, the Giants ended up not getting a significant return on their investment. Despite appearing in 12 games, Waller only caught 52 passes for 552 yards and one touchdown for the Giants, who also paid over $11 million for his services.
Throughout his time with the Giants, Waller was plagued by hamstring issues that limited his playing time. Ultimately, at the age of 31, Waller decided to retire from the NFL. The Giants expressed their respect for him as both a person and player in a statement confirming his retirement, wishing him nothing but the best in his future endeavors.
Waller had previously experienced success with the Raiders, recording thousand-yard seasons in both 2019 and 2020. However, injuries became a recurring problem for him in 2021, leading to a decline in his performance. Over the past three years, Waller appeared in 32 regular-season games, showcasing his talent and potential when healthy.
For the Giants, trading for Waller was a calculated risk due to his undeniable talent. Although things did not work out as expected in this instance, such risks are sometimes worth taking in the ever-unpredictable world of professional sports.