Giants’ Joe Schoen has no regrets over Darren Waller trade: ‘Would do it again’
One week after signing Daniel Jones to a four-year, $160 million contract, the Giants back in mid-March gave Jones another present, acquiring tight end Darren Waller in a trade with the Raiders.
The Giants sent a third-round pick in the 2023 draft to the Raiders in exchange for Waller, a noted pass-catcher who had not been able to stay on the field in 2021 and 2022 because of hamstring issues.
Waller’s first season with the Giants did not go as anticipated, as the excitement he generated in training camp did not translate to production in an injury-riddled debut with his new team.
Still, Giants general manager Joe Schoen said he has no regrets whatsoever about the trade.
“Yeah, I would do it again,” Schoen said Monday. “I would do it again with Waller. I mean, you guys saw him this spring, you saw him in the summer. Unfortunately, he had the injury before the Dallas game. Again, he was still a productive part of our offense when available. I would do that again every day of the week.”
Waller in 12 games finished second on the team with 52 receptions for 552 yards and only one touchdown.
He missed five straight games after suffering a significant hamstring strain in the Week 8 loss to the Jets.
It was a far cry from Waller’s best years with the Raiders — 2019 and 2020 — when he caught 197 passes and scored 12 touchdowns.
After a contract restructuring, Waller will count $14.4 million on the 2024 salary cap.
If the Giants want to part ways with him, it will cost them $7.8 million in dead money to save $6.9 million on the cap.
“We’ll have those conversations with the staff, but the expectation is he’ll be back,” Schoen said.
All players did not partake in end-of-season exit interviews with Schoen and coach Brian Daboll.
Those meetings were held with rookies, second-year players and impending free agents.
All players met with their position coaches before leaving the building.
Many players signed jerseys to exchange with their teammates.
Schoen and his front office staff and scouts did not attend Monday night’s national championship game in Houston, explaining that NFL personnel do not get much access in the bowl games and playoff games. Schoen already scouted both teams during the season.
Guard Ben Bredeson planned on attending the game. Not only did he play at Michigan, but his younger brother, Max, is the Wolverines’ starting fullback. “I’m excited for him, he’s put a lot of work into it,” Bredeson said.
Saquon Barkley played the final 12 games of the season after missing three games with a high ankle sprain.
Barkley ended up with 247 rushing attempts — his third-highest total in his six-year career — and said he came through the season in good shape.
“Body feels well,’’ he said. “I came out healthy. Obviously I had an injury early in the year with the ankle but that held up pretty well for me. Actually it held up a lot better than past ankle injuries I’ve had.’’
The Panthers requested permission to speak with Giants assistant general manager Brandon Brown for their vacant GM position, according to NFL Network.
The following players were signed to reserve/futures deals: DL Ryder Anderson, OT Yodny Cajuste, DB Kaleb Hayes, WR Dennis Houston, RB Deon Jackson, LB Dyontae Johnson, OLB Jeremiah Martin, G Jalen Mayfield, OT Joshua Miles and DB Stantley Thomas-Oliver.
