Darren Waller

The timing of this move only added to the criticism.

The Raiders already said goodbye to one of their longest-tenured offensive weapons when they released Derek Carr earlier in the offseason.

Either way, Waller will be owed a solid chunk of change in 2023. Now, the question becomes exactly what is next for the Raiders at tight end. Waller will come with a cap hit just under $12 million in 2023. As good as Waller is when he's healthy, the team hasn't been able to rely on him in recent years. Still, he is a solid get for the Giants. They will receive draft pick compensation in exchange for the wily veteran.

While the Raiders move on from one-time Pro Bowl tight end Darren Waller before turns 31 to save big money toward the 2023 NFL salary cap, the Giants reach ...

[Best players available](https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/news/nfl-free-agent-rankings-2023-best-players-available/lpoteueqyynhbsbia7mwgrwa) McDaniels can simply pivot to more dynamic 11 personnel (three wide receivers) with Meyers in the mix, or GM Dave Ziegler and Raiders could also target a tight end in a deep draft for the position as early as taking Notre Dame's Michael Mayer at No. Waller will be 31 in September right as the 2023 NFL season starts. [Live tracker](https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/news/nfl-free-agency-tracker-2023-live-news-signings-rumors/zay1qbzhkfhx3ixpx7eyatov) He was hamstrung for much of last year going back the offseason in July and landed on IR, playing only 9 games. Following their decision to reunite Garoppolo and Meyers with offensive-minded coach Josh McDaniels in free agency, they decided to move on from tight end Darren Waller — the former go-to guy of their former top QB, Derek Carr.

Two trades largely overshadowed Tuesday's free-agent news, and there are potential deals being discussed involving Ekeler and Aaron Rodgers.

[Jordan Love](https://theathletic.com/nfl/player/jordan-love-hKoINpSJMsyZAYt3/) is a lot better than we all think he is. The Lions are returning all their key coaches, and the Vikings are an [extremely happy](https://nflpa.com/minnesota-vikings-report-card) team. If they were to bolster their backfield — with Devin Singletary likely gone — then free-agent [Jamaal Williams](https://theathletic.com/nfl/player/jamaal-williams-yiuEdPRfziuCcAfe/) is more palatable than parting with draft assets. [Kansas City](https://theathletic.com/nfl/team/chiefs/) when Waller was active but sat out the game. Even though the Giants made the playoffs last year, [Daniel Jones](https://theathletic.com/nfl/player/daniel-jones-OeqLvbJNbGyXeJqu/) needs more weapons to make a legitimate Super Bowl run. [Bills’](https://theathletic.com/nfl/team/bills/) offense comprehensive, but just last year they drafted [James Cook](https://theathletic.com/nfl/player/james-cook-yynfZqHDAdhkOwK4/) in the second round and traded for Nyheim Hines. [Aaron Rodgers](https://theathletic.com/nfl/player/aaron-rodgers-jcxErAcw3SOmBLdo/) has yet to announce whether he plans to leave the [Packers](https://theathletic.com/nfl/team/packers/) for the [Jets](https://theathletic.com/nfl/team/jets/), but other players found themselves on the move Tuesday, the second day of the [NFL](https://theathletic.com/nfl/)’s legal tampering period. Poles is clearly enjoying himself in this role of building the Bears back up, unlike last year when he took over with plenty of restrictions and had to shed a bunch of expensive veteran contracts. [Kadarius Toney](https://theathletic.com/nfl/player/kadarius-toney-BSKlIouLvUAvaGy7/), so Schoen flipped a disappointing Dave Gettleman first-rounder (who, granted, has played better in Kansas City) for a unicorn. [Daniel Bellinger](https://theathletic.com/nfl/player/daniel-bellinger-xceBk8g1yWAazwKs/) was their top tight end with just 30 catches for 238 yards and two touchdowns. [NFLPA report cards](https://theathletic.com/4265631/2023/03/01/nflpa-player-survey-results-commanders/) specifically called out coach Josh McDaniels and his staff as the Raiders’ lowest-graded category. The report card raved about Las Vegas’ facility but said this about McDaniels: “Player respondents felt that head coach Josh McDaniels is less likely to listen to his players and keeps them for longer hours than other head coaches around the league.” The Athletic’s Vic Tafur also reported that Waller was mad at McDaniels for leaking the date of his wedding.

Darren Waller made the Pro Bowl in 2020 but was limited by injuries the last two years.

The Giants' pass-catching group is receiving a much-needed top option.

Just like McDaniels and the Raiders [replaced Carr with](https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/2023-nfl-free-agency-raiders-to-sign-jimmy-garoppolo-as-qb-exits-49ers-after-six-seasons/) [Jimmy Garoppolo](/nfl/players/1760229/jimmy-garoppolo/), they have replaced Waller with Meyers. Last year's NFL rushing champion and Raiders running back [Josh Jacobs](/nfl/players/2257876/josh-jacobs/) [also has his doubts](https://twitter.com/iAM_JoshJacobs/status/1635708591372922880?s=20). [The Athletic](https://twitter.com/VicTafur/status/1635722131794464768), Waller was upset with head coach Josh McDaniels for accidentally giving out the news that the tight end was marrying WNBA All-Star and Las Vegas Aces guard Kelsey Plum when speaking at the NFL Scouting Combine. [Saints](https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/teams/NO/new-orleans-saints/) quarterback [Derek Carr](/nfl/players/1664819/derek-carr/) had philosophical differences they couldn't reconcile in terms of how to run an offense and who had ultimate control of play-calling and audibles, [according to Derek's older brother, David](https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/derek-carrs-brother-reveals-new-details-about-raiders-split-says-qb-had-great-visit-with-jets/) -- a former QB who was the first overall pick of the 2002 NFL Draft by the [Houston Texans](https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/teams/HOU/houston-texans/). [Josh Allen](/nfl/players/2181054/josh-allen/), Dolphins quarterback [Tua Tagovailoa](/nfl/players/2741209/tua-tagovailoa/) and Eagles quarterback [Jalen Hurts](/nfl/players/2240246/jalen-hurts/) all were given their own Pro Bowl-level top targets. [Isaiah Hodgins](/nfl/players/2783899/isaiah-hodgins/), [Sterling Shepard](/nfl/players/1996786/sterling-shepard/) and [Wan'Dale Robinson](/nfl/players/3124107/wandale-robinson/), plus tight end [Daniel Bellinger](/nfl/players/2963615/daniel-bellinger/), [New York Giants](https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/teams/NYG/new-york-giants/) general manger Joe Schoen realized he needed to do something to give his new $160 million quarterback [Daniel Jones](/nfl/players/2179245/daniel-jones/) a Pro Bowl-caliber playmaker. The Giants acquired the selection by sending their former first-round pick, wide receiver [Kadarius Toney](/nfl/players/2767487/kadarius-toney/), to the Chiefs during the 2022 season, so in short the G-Men traded Toney for Waller. One, the on-field reasons: Waller is turning 31 in September and has missed a combined 14 games across the last two seasons with a few different injuries. The Giants were also one of the top 10 red zone offenses in the NFL a year ago, converting 63.3% of their red zone drives into touchdowns -- the seventh-highest rate in the NFL -- despite not having a go-to, big body like Waller's to throw it up to. Meyers, 26, is a cheaper contract at three years, $33 million versus the three-year, $51 million extension the team gave Waller prior to Week 1 of the 2022 season. Brown](/nfl/players/2258303/a-j-brown/) via trade) and made a trade to [land a Pro Bowl pass-catcher](https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/darren-waller-trade-giants-raiders-strike-deal-that-sends-pro-bowl-te-to-new-york-for-third-round-pick/) for Jones in former [Las Vegas Raiders](https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/teams/LV/las-vegas-raiders/) tight end [Darren Waller](/nfl/players/1850793/darren-waller/). The 6-6, 255-pound pass-catcher could also help unlock Jones' deep passing game since he had seven catches of 20 or more yards downfield, the most among all tight ends last season despite missing eight games with injuries.