Earlier this offseason, the Las Vegas Raiders surprised many when they traded Pro Bowl tight end Darren Waller to the New York Giants.
Back in March, the Raiders traded their star tight end to the Giants in exchange for a third-round pick in the April draft (100th overall). With that selection, the Raiders selected Cincinnati wide receiver Tre Trucker.
Citing sources, Adam Caplan of Pro Football Network reports that the Raiders decided to trade Waller because they simply grew frustrated with him missing games to injury. Waller was limited to 20 games over his final two seasons with the Raiders:
“While getting a third-round pick was seen by multiple league sources as good compensation for the Raiders, considering Waller turns 31 this fall, league sources said some in the club got wary of Waller missing significant time over the last two seasons (14 games).
There were no off-the-field concerns, it should be noted, but as a pro personnel source added, you want to move away from older players who have trouble staying healthy before it’s too late.
The Raiders, another source said, did try to re-sign veteran TE Foster Moreau, but the New Orleans Saints wound up signing him to a three-year, $12.2 million deal ($8 million fully guaranteed). To replace Waller, the team selected Michael Mayer in the second round of this year’s NFL Draft.”
Waller had a breakout year for the Raiders in 2019, recording 90 receptions for 1,145 yards and three touchdowns. He followed it up with a career year in 2020, racking up 107 catches for 1,196 yards and nine touchdowns.
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In 11 games for the Raiders last year, Waller recorded 55 catches for 655 yards and two touchdowns. He was limited to nine games during his final season in Sin City, and Waller recorded 28 catches for 388 yards and three touchdowns.
The soon-to-be 31-year-old Waller joins a Giants team that finished 9-7-1 last season, good enough for the No. 6 seed in the NFC. The Giants upset the Minnesota Vikings in the Wild Card Round before falling to the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Divisional Round.
