It may not feel like Darren Waller has been at this that long but it sounds like the New York Giants are expecting the Pro Bowl tight end is headed for retirement.
Per ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter, “Giants TE Darren Waller is likely to make a decision by next week’s mandatory minicamp about his playing future and people in and around the team expect that he’s going to retire, sources told @JordanRaanan.”
The 31-year-old said on a recent Instagram Live that a decision was coming “very soon.” According to Raanan, Waller has been contemplating retirement since the end of last season and hasn’t attended any of New York’s voluntary OTAs.
Giants mandatory minicamp is scheduled to begin next Tuesday which means the veteran tight end could announce what he wants to do any day now.
The team has reportedly been operating throughout the spring as if Waller will retire and has signed several tight ends via free agency and the draft.
Waller struggled to stay healthy in 2023, appearing in 12 games and recording 52 catches for 552 yards and a single touchdown.
Waller’s currently signed through the 2025 season, but none of the money is guaranteed. New York would actually gain almost $12 million in cap space this year if the former Raven/Raider were to hang ’em up.