New York Giants head coach Pat Shurmur has made a splash by acquiring an elite weapon for quarterback Daniel Jones. According to NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero on Tuesday, Big Blue is finalizing a trade to acquire tight end Darren Waller from the Las Vegas Raiders.
According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the 100th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft that the Giants received from the Kansas City Chiefs in exchange for Kadarius Toney will be sent to the Las Vegas Raiders.
The Giants’ offense was lacking playmakers, so this was a huge acquisition for them. Waller is a mismatch against the linebackers and safeties as a result of his speed and field-stretching ability.
The Raiders have been the catalyst for the 30-year-career-old’s renaissance, as he has produced back-to-back 1,100-yard seasons in 2019 and 2020. However, injuries have derailed his past two seasons in Vegas. Waller only saw action in nine games that year, but he still managed to record 28 receptions for 388 yards and three scores.
When fully recovered, Waller is a major threat in the middle of the field, requiring opposing defenses to adjust their strategies accordingly. Even if the TE’s blocking is just average, that will help open up the running game for Saquon Barkley. Waller’s versatility allows for head coach Brian Daboll to get creative with the formations he uses, especially when pairing him with rookie success story Daniel Bellinger in two-TE sets.
