NFL Rumors: Giants 'Operating' Like Darren Waller Will Retire After Theo Johnson Pick
Timothy Rapp@@TRappaRT
Featured Columnist IVApril 27, 2024
The New York Giants addressed the tight end position on Saturday, selecting Penn State tight end Theo Johnson in the fourth round (No. 107 overall).
It was the sort of move that hinted at Darren Waller's potential retirement, or at least the Giants anticipating that possibility from the veteran tight end:
Jordan Raanan @JordanRaananHave said this multiple times already: The <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Giants?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Giants</a> are operating as if Darren Waller will retire. <br><br>They can't count on him being on the roster given the circumstances. Waller is still deciding on his future.
Ralph Vacchiano @RalphVacchianoDarren Waller, of course, has been pondering retirement for months but recently said he's still undecided. <br><br>The Giants are giving him space, but they have to be prepared to move on -- especially given Waller's injury history and the fact he'll be 32 in September. <a href="https://t.co/Ao64B3pczP">https://t.co/Ao64B3pczP</a>
Waller, 31, appeared in just 12 games for the Giants last season, registering 52 catches 552 yards and a score. Hamstring injuries led to a stint on injured reserve in 2023, a similar problem to what he dealt with in his later years with the Las Vegas Raiders when he played just 20 games between the 2021-22 seasons.
That has perhaps contributed to the veteran tight end considering retirement, though he's yet to make a decision.
"I haven't [set a deadline], but I know at the end of the day, you know, there's going to be no considering in reevaluating past when people report to camp, but I feel like I am getting an inch closer to a decision," Waller told Joey Chandler of NJ.com on Friday.
The Giants, meanwhile, are remaining patient as Waller contemplates his future.
"We're giving Darren his space," general manager Joe Schoen told reporters earlier in April. "We've had conversations with Drew Rosenhaus, his agent. He's keeping us in the loop. We're giving Darren space. Hopefully, he will make a decision in the short term, but we're giving him time and space to decide on what he wants to do."
The Giants aren't resting on their laurels while they wait for his decision, however.
The B/R NFL Scouting Department described the team's fourth-round pick, Johnson, as an "uber-athletic Y tight end prospect who will need time and development to unlock his receiving potential in the NFL," adding that his "blocking ability and high-end athleticism will make him a viable TE2 in the NFL right away."
If Waller calls it quits, however, Johnson may find himself in a starting position right away, and at the very least would compete with Daniel Bellinger for snaps.