When Darren Waller was with the Las Vegas Raiders, many thought they were seeing the blossoming of the NFL’s next great tight end.
Waller had two consecutive seasons of reaching over 1,100 yards in 2019 and 2020, with the latter being a career season of 107 catches for 1,196 yards and nine touchdowns. However, Waller’s career trajectory shifted drastically when he was traded to the New York Giants in 2023 for a third-round pick. He never really jelled with Giants head coach Brian Daboll’s scheme, catching 52 passes for 552 yards and one touchdown across 12 games before retiring in June 2024.
However, Waller has now resurfaced with a team looking for stability at the position.
On Tuesday, the Giants traded Waller along with a conditional seventh-round pick in 2027 to the Miami Dolphins in exchange for a 2026 sixth-round pick.
While the Dolphins have not typically used their tight ends on offense with the speed at their other skill positions, last year marked a turning point for the team. Jonnu Smith enjoyed a career season in Miami last season, hitting career-high marks with 88 catches, 884 yards and eight touchdowns. The season lead to the first Pro Bowl honors of Smith’s career, and Waller is hoping to reach a similar peak.
Smith, along with cornerback Jalen Ramsey, was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday, prompting the Dolphins to find a new answer at the position. Raiders tight end Michael Mayer was considered a target, but tepid interest from the team lead to the Dolphins looking elsewhere.
Waller now reunites with offensive coordinator Frank Smith in Miami. Smith served as tight ends coach of the Raiders from 2018-20, so he knows where Waller fits best on offense. With his big body serving as a complement to burners such as Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, Waller can make a living in the middle of the field and as a red zone target for quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.
The Raiders do not face the Dolphins this season, so fans can cheer for Waller’s success without it coming back to haunt them.
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