Giants expect TE Darren Waller to retire

When the Giants report to training camp next month, they are not expecting tight end Darren Waller to be with the team.

According to multiple reports, the Giants are confident Waller intends to retire from the NFL, a decision he has wrestled with since the end of the 2023 season -- his first with New York.

Waller is spending more time working on a music career. He released a new single last week and said in a recent interview that his commitment level for football isn't where it needs to be for him to play again.

Giants general manager Joe Schoen said in April he had not given the 31-year-old a deadline for his decision and days later New York selected wide receiver Malik Nabers of LSU with the No. 6 pick in the 2024 draft before adding Penn State tight end Theo Johnson in the fourth round.

Johnson has taken some snaps with the first team in voluntary workouts this offseason.

Waller, who will turn 32 in September, caught 52 passes for 552 yards and one touchdown in 12 games (11 starts) last season with New York.

The Giants signed tight ends Jack Stoll and Chris Manhertz in free agency.

Waller is due a base salary of $10.5 million in 2024 plus per-game roster bonuses if he's on the active gameday roster.

He signed a three-year, $51 million contract extension with the Las Vegas Raiders in September 2022. New York acquired him from Las Vegas in March 2023 for a third-round pick in the 2023 draft.

Waller made the 2020 Pro Bowl after his second straight 1,100-yard season with the Raiders. He has caught 350 passes for 4,124 yards and 20 scores in 86 games with the Ravens (2015-16), Raiders (2018-22) and Giants.

--Field Level Media