HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — Tight end Darren Waller is being traded to the New York Giants, who will send the Las Vegas Raiders a 2023 third-round draft pick, two people familiar with the deal said Tuesday.
They spoke to The AP on condition of anonymity because the trade has not been announced. One person said the Giants will send the Raiders their No. 100 overall selection, which was acquired from the Kansas City Chiefs in the deal for wide receiver Kadarius Toney.
Waller, who made the Pro Bowl in 2020 gives Giants quarterback Daniel Jones a major playmaker and an upgrade at tight end. Last year’s starter, Daniel Bellinger, caught 30 passes for 268 yards and two touchdowns.
Waller twice has surpassed 1,000 receiving yards, in 2019 and 2020, before injuries cut into his production the past two seasons. In 2022, Waller caught 28 passes for 388 yards and three TDs, missing eight games because of a hamstring injury.
The trade for Waller, 30, is an effort to boost the Giants’ offensive talent around Jones, who last season passed for 3,205 yards and 15 touchdowns with five interceptions. Jones agreed to a four-year, $160 million extension this offseason. New York didn’t have any receivers top 60 catches of 800 yards.
For the Raiders, their acquisition of wide receiver Jakobi Meyers on Tuesday helped make Waller expendable. Meyers agreed to a three-year, $33 million deal, a person familiar with the contract told The AP, giving Las Vegas a player who averaged 70 catches and 800 yards receiving over the past three seasons.
Now the Raiders’ offense includes quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, running back Josh Jacobs and receivers Davante Adams, Hunter Renfrow and Meyers. The Raiders agreed to a deal with Garoppolo on Monday and placed the franchise tag on Jacobs on March 6.
More changes could be coming. Trading Waller allows the Raiders to free up about $11 million in salary cap space. They have $26.4 million in cap space, according to overthecap.com.
Waller was traded just 10 days after marrying Las Vegas Aces star Kelsey Plum.
NOTE: The Giants have re-signed running back Matt Breida. He was the backup to Saquon Barkley. Breida had 54 carries for 220 yards and a touchdown last season.
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AP Pro Football Writer Rob Maaddi and AP Sports Writer Tom Canavan contributed.
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