Report — Giants’ TE Darren Waller expected to retire

ESPN is reporting that New York Giants tight end Darren Waller is expected to announce his retirement from the NFL before the Giants hold their mandatory mini-camp June 11-12, which is next week.

We wrote over the weekend that a decision on Waller’ status should be forthcoming soon since June 1 had passed, enhancing the cap savings the Giants would get from either cutting Waller or via his retirement.

If Waller, acquired by the Giants via trade last season, retires or is cut the Giants will save $11.625 million against the salary cap. Because of pro-rate signing bonus money remaining in his contract, the Giants would carry a $2.458 million cap charge this year and a $4.916 million cap charge in 2025.

The Giants acquired Waller, who had 1,000-yard receiving seasons in 2019 and 2020 with the Las Vegas Raiders, for a third-round pick last season. They hoped to build their passing attack around the tight end, but that did not happen.

Waller caught 52 passes for 552 yards and a touchdown last season, but missed five games with a hamstring injury. Waller has missed a significant number of games in three consecutive seasons.

Injuries are part of the reason Waller appears set to retire. He has been unable to shake leg injuries since 2022. Waller also went through a public, messy divorce from Las Vegas Aces star Kelsey Plum recently, and has been using the divorce to find inspiration for material to help the music career he is trying to build.

The Giants appear to have been expecting Waller to retire throughout the offseason.

Third-year tight end Daniel Bellinger is the starter without Waller, and should expect a bigger role in the passing attack. The Giants signed a pair of veteran blocking tight ends in Jack Stoll and Chris Manhertz. They also drafted tight end Theo Johnson in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft, and Johnson has been productive in the pair of OTAs witness by media this spring.

Waller, 32 in September, has 350 receptions for 4,124 yards (11.8 yards per catch) with 20 career touchdowns.