Giants TE Darren Waller gives rough timeline to decide on retirement
There are a number of different directions the New York Giants could go with the No. 6 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
But perhaps an under-the-radar player the Giants could consider is Georgia tight end Brock Bowers, especially if the team’s current starting tight end Darren Waller decides to retire, as has been recently speculated.
Waller hasn’t yet made a decision, but he could do the Giants a solid if he makes up his mind before the first round of the draft, which begins on April 25 in Detroit.
“[Deciding before the draft] would be ideal, but I also don’t want to put that on myself,” Waller told The Athletic. “It’s got to be before summer break, for sure.”
In his first season in New York, Waller recorded 52 receptions for 552 yards and a touchdown.
Injuries have kept him from returning to the Pro Bowl-level he was playing at four years ago when he logged back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, including a 107-catch, 1,196-yard, nine-touchdown year in 2020 (all career highs.)
If Waller does call it a career, the Giants are quite limited at the tight end position. Despite having five other TEs on the roster, only Daniel Bellinger has more than 30 career receptions and at least 300 yards.
“I have to make a decision at some point,” Waller said. “You have to be 100 percent bought in, for the grind. And I have to make sure I am bringing that to the table, or it’s a disservice to the guys I am suiting up with. I also want to give the team time, where whichever way I go, they can prepare for next season. So…it’s a little bit of a difficult decision, but here we are.”
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