The big moves continue to come for the Las Vegas Raiders. The signing of wide receiver Jakobi Meyers turned some heads as that didn’t feel like an area of need for the team, leading some to wonder whether the team had another move coming and as it turns out that move involved tight end, Darren Waller.
According to NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero, the Raiders have agreed to trade Waller to the New York Giants for a 2023 third-round draft pick:
Blockbuster: The #Giants are finalizing a trade to acquire star TE Darren Waller from the #Raiders, per sources. pic.twitter.com/bNNGJvIKfI
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 14, 2023
A Waller deal is something that has been rumored for some time. He was nearly traded away to the Green Bay Packers in the DaVante Adams deal, but the Raiders were able to hold on to him and give him a contract extension last offseason. But the team has now chosen to send him away to New York, receiving the 100th overall pick in return, a pick the Giants received in the trade that sent receiver Kadarius Toney to the Kansas City Chiefs.
The deal also frees up around $11 million in salary cap space for the Raiders.
There have been ups and downs with Waller during his Raiders tenure. He emerged as one of the best tight ends in the NFL in 2019 and followed it up with another excellent season in 2020 leading to a Pro Bowl selection. In those two seasons, he totaled 197 catches for 2,341 yards and 12 touchdowns.
But his last two seasons have been marred with injury and an inability to stay on the field consistently. Last season was the worst as he appeared in just nine games, but was hampered in many of those as well. He finished the year with just 28 catches for 388 yards and three touchdowns.
There have also been rumored concerns about Waller’s attitude. Following comments by then-quarterback Derek Carr as well as receiver DaVante Adams about players not giving their best effort and being bought in, rumors began to circulate that it was Waller whom they were speaking about, though that was ultimately denied.
Nonetheless, the Raiders have chosen to move on. With Foster Moreau flashing some potential at the position and Meyers giving Garoppolo another weapon, the franchise felt they could go in a new direction and the team could always look to the draft at a potential replacement.
