Dolphins Acquire Unretired TE Darren Waller In Trade With Giants

Riding off the trade with Pittsburgh yesterday, the Miami Dolphins have gotten a new offensive weapon – tight end Darren Waller, who they’ve acquired in a trade with the New York Giants.

The full trade involves Miami sending New York a 2026 sixth-round pick in exchange for Waller, along with a 2027 conditional seventh-round pick. Waller has signed a one-year deal with the Dolphins worth up to $5 million.

Surprise! The #Dolphins are finalizing a trade with the #Giants for former Pro Bowl TE Darren Waller, who is coming out of retirement to play in Miami, per sources.

A fascinating twist for Waller, who retired last summer, and a new weapon for a team that just traded Jonnu Smith. pic.twitter.com/MDO2XnHClb

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) July 1, 2025

Back in early 2024, he announced his retirement from football and did not play for the entire season. Regardless, the Dolphins needed a replacement for Jonnu Smith that wouldn’t break the bank. Waller, who turns 33 in September, was considered one of the best tight ends in football at his peak.

Turning The Clock Back To 2020

Waller was drafted by Baltimore in the 2015 NFL Draft out of Georgia Tech. He was initially a wide receiver, but was converted to a tight end during his time with the Ravens. Unfortunately, Waller was suspended for four games in 2016 and the entire 2017 season for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy.

In 2018, the then-Oakland Raiders picked up Warren off Baltimore’s practice squad. In 2019 and 2020, he recorded over 1,000 receiving yards, with nine touchdowns in the latter season. He earned a Pro Bowl spot in 2020 for his efforts. While his stats went down in 2021, he was still considered a top tight end in the NFL.

From 2022 onwards, Waller began to struggle with staying on the field due to injury. He was placed on injured reserve in November. The Ravens then had a trade with the Giants for Waller in exchange for a third-round pick. He suffered a hamstring injury in Week 8 and was placed on injured reserve once again. Waller announced his retirement from football in June 2024.

Now, Waller will look to lock up the starting position for the Dolphins. On paper, he certainly seems like an upgrade over Julian Hill and Tanner Connor, but he’ll need to be able to stay on the field and provide solid receptions for Tua and the Miami offense.

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