Darren Waller says Raiders trading him to the Giants wasn't a huge surprise

New York Giants tight end Darren Waller is several months removed from his trade away from the Las Vegas Raiders and is now opening up about the experience.

Although Waller says he wasn’t “totally shocked,” he was surprised that he wound up in New York in particular.

“Not totally shocked,” Waller said, via Adam Hill of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. “I had heard some things. There were different moments throughout the year that I heard I may be traded, or I may not. So the actual event of it wasn’t too shocking.

“But I didn’t expect it to be the Giants.”

Just last year, Waller signed an extension with Las Vegas that paid him $17 million per year. That is now the Giants’ responsibility to pay.

The Giants traded a third-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, pick No. 100, in exchange for Waller. The Raiders picked up Cincinnati receiver Tre Tucker with that selection.

Waller settling in with Giants

Through minicamp and OTAs, Waller has so far enjoyed getting to know his teammates and working with quarterback Daniel Jones.

“It’s been a great challenge,” Waller said. “I love a good challenge and just forming a new relationship with my teammates. They’re really excited about winning. They’re really solid about doing things the right way and continuing to build a foundation on what they started last year. I’m just excited to be a part of it.”

Waller was one of the league’s most productive tight ends during the 2019 and 2020 seasons. He recorded more than 1,100 yards receiving in both seasons. Injuries ended up derailing his next two seasons and he ended up playing just 20 games.

In 2022, he caught just 28 passes for 388 yards with three touchdowns for the Raiders. At 30 years old, there’s definitely still time for Waller to return to his peak form from 2020.

In comments perceived as a bit of a parting shot at his former team, Waller admitted he thinks the Giants coaching staff listens to the players more.

“Yeah, they value our opinions here,” Waller said to ESPN’s Jordan Raanan. “As a player, I feel like a lot of places I’ve gone, you’re told to do things a certain way and you do those things. But here it’s like, they ask a lot of questions. They want to know what you’re thinking, what you want to do more.

“So to offer input is a really cool thing because coaches and players have to be in partnership. We’re all together and shouldn’t be clashing with each other. We’re all going in the same direction.”