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Las Vegas Raiders TE Darren Waller’s trade to the New York Giants was the talk of the town on Day 2 of the 2023 NFL free agency.
Darren Waller has been in Las Vegas since 2018 when the Raiders signed him off Ravens’ practice squad. Waller is one of the best tight ends in the NFL and has been a core part of the Raiders' offense. On Tuesday, the Raiders sent shockwaves around the league when they traded Waller to the New York Giants in exchange for a third-round pick.
The move by the Raiders ticked off Waller’s wife Kelsey Plum. She took to Twitter to take a dig at head coach Josh McDaniels. Responding to a tweet from former Commanders QB Robert Griffin III, the WNBA All-Star MVP indicated that trading Waller was a personal move since the head coach wasn't invited to their wedding. She wrote:
Prolly cause he wasn't invited to the wedding lol
On March 4th 2023, Darren Waller and current WNBA Champion Kelsey Plum tied the knot in a private ceremony in Las Vegas. Apparently it was Josh McDaniels who leaked the news of their wedding to the media during the NFL combine. This infuriated Darren Waller when the news was published in the Las Vegas Review-Journal, prior to the couple's public announcement.
As the rumors mount and as we connect the dots, it only seems fitting that Josh McDaniels pulled off this trade due to personal reasons.
What does Darren Waller's addition mean for the New York Giants?
The New York Giants have been very busy this past week. Prior to the franchise tag deadline on March 7, the Giants handed quarterback Daniel Jones a massive four-year $160 million extension. Jones had a career year under Brian Daboll. He threw for 3205 yards, 15 touchdowns, and five interceptions with a QBR of 60.8 and eventually led the Giants to their first playoff game since 2016.
Apart from this, the Giants also franchise tagged running back Saquon Barkley for $10.3 million. They've also re-signed their free agents Isaiah Hodgins (WR), Lawrence Cager (TE) and Jack Anderson (G), prior to the start of free agency.
With the addition of tight end Darren Waller to the roster, the Giants are an offensive powerhouse. Instead of going after another wide receiver, they targeted the TE and paired him with Daniel Bellinger. What this means is that Daniel Jones will have better options for pass-catching. Overall, this was an excellent addition to the Giants' offense.
One thing to keep in mind is the health of Darren Waller. The tight end has played in only 20 games in the previous two seasons and has been struggling with injuries. This could be a major concern for the Giants heading into the 2023 NFL season.
But with everything taken care of, this will be a huge season for the Giants. They've shown promise in 2022. Daniel Jones and the crew, under the guidance of Brian Daboll, will be looking to make the trip to the Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas in 2024.
