In an unexpected move, the Las Vegas Raiders have agreed to ship tight end Darren Waller to the New York Giants in exchange for a 2023 third round selection.
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
Waller re-upped with the Raiders for three years and a $51 million deal last year, but may be looking for more. The Giants, needing a reliable receiving target, got one of the premier tight ends in the league.
Evaluating the Raiders’ current situation is tricky. Last season, they had a lot of success when they ran 21 and 11 personnel, but they recently added WR Jakobi Meyers from the Patriots, suggesting they may be heading in a different direction. Unfortunately, the departure of Waller left them with only Jesper Horsted and Cole Fotheringham at the tight end position, and with Foster Moreau a free agent, it could be a concern for head coach Josh McDaniels entering the draft. It’s a puzzling move, and it’s difficult to give them a grade, but overall, I’d say the Raiders get a C-minus.
The Giants have earned a grade of B+ for their acquisition of Daniel Jones and signing him to a long-term deal. Although they lacked viable receiving targets last season, the addition of Waller gives them a legitimate top target in the passing game and someone who head coach Brian Daboll can build the offensive strategy around. Although there are some concerns about his injury history, the Giants only had to give up a third round pick for this acquisition, making this a great deal for the team.
Read more: Jimmy Garoppolo Signs Record-Breaking 3-Year Deal with the Raiders
