Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
NEW YORK — Giants tight end Darren Waller is still on the fence to retire, but he hasn’t made a decision.
And the Giants seem OK with that.
General manager Joe Schoen said the team hasn’t given the TE a timeline to make a decision on whether or not he will retire.
Schoen spoke to the media on Thursday ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft, and he was (unsurprisingly) asked about Waller’s status with the team.
“We’re giving Darren some space. We’ve had conversations with Drew Rosenhaus, his agent, and he’s kept us in the loop on Darren,” Schoen said. “So we’re giving him space.”
It was reported in early March that Waller was considering retirement. A month and a half later, that still appears to be the case, and the Giants are in no hurry to get a decision from the veteran tight end.
“Hopefully, he’s going to make a decision here in the short term,” Schoen added. “But, you know, we’re getting him time and space to make a decision on what he wants to do.”
Waller has battled numerous nagging injuries in recent years and appeared in just 12 games last season due to a hamstring injury. But he was still serviceable when available, tallying 52-552-1 in those games while totaling 70-plus yards in three of his first eight contests.
The TE will turn 32 shortly after the season begins. Clearly, on the back nine of his career, even if he does opt to play in 2024, he’s a long way off from being the player we saw in 2019 and 2020.
With draft approaching, Waller’s decision could have a real influence on what the offense looks like in 2024. So expect some clarity over the next few weeks.
