Giants.com is counting down to the start of the team's 2023 training camp with 23 questions in 23 days.
Each day, a member of the crew will answer one question about the roster, coaching staff, schedule, and much more.
9) How does tight end Darren Waller impact the offense?
Of all the veteran wide receivers and tight ends to change teams since the end of last season, none might have a bigger impact on their respective offense than Waller with the Giants. There's no doubt that injuries have limited the 6-foot-6 tight end over the last two seasons, as Waller has played just 20 of 34 games and totaled only 83 receptions for 1,053 yards and five touchdowns during that span. However, one only has to look back to the 2019 and 2020 seasons to see just how much of a weapon he can be. In 2019, Waller caught 90 passes for 1,145 yards and three touchdowns. He followed that up with 107 receptions for 1,196 yards, nine touchdowns and his first Pro Bowl selection in 2020. Even as he only suited up for nine games in 2022, Waller's seven catches of 20+ yards downfield led all tight ends.
Waller's potential impact on the offense was evident during spring practices. On one of the first plays of 7-on-7 drills during the first week of OTAs, Daniel Jones found Waller deep down the sideline for a huge gain. Throughout OTAs and minicamp, this became the norm. Jones would hit Waller constantly during these team drills, whether it was deep passes down the field or goal-line looks. Knowing how creative Brian Daboll and Mike Kafka can be, there's no doubt they are going to have Waller line up all over the field in order to create as many mismatches as possible.
Since 2019, Waller has the second-most receptions (65) and receiving yards (789) among tight ends split out wide, trailing only Kansas City's Travis Kelce. Whether Waller is split out wide or lined up on the line of scrimmage, Jones is going to target him early and often. With Daniel Bellinger showing up to spring practices looking noticeably stronger, it wouldn't surprise anyone if the Giants run a lot of two-tight end sets this year, with Waller split out wide and Bellinger on the line of scrimmage. Any way you look at it, it is obvious that Waller is going to have a tremendous impact on the offense.
Previous Questions
Get excited for the 2023 season with photos from Media Day at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center.


TE Darren Waller (12)

QB Daniel Jones (8)

DB Deonte Banks (36)

DL Dexter Lawrence II (97)

LB Bobby Okereke (58)

OT Andrew Thomas (78)

LB Jihad Ward (55)

S Xavier McKinney (29)

OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)

OL John Michael Schmitz Jr (61)

DB Adoree' Jackson (22)

WR Sterling Shepard (3)

LB Azeez Ojulari (51)

WR Isaiah Hodgins (18), WR Darius Slayton (86)

TE Daniel Bellinger (82)

OL Evan Neal (73)

RB Eric Gray (20), WR Jalin Hyatt (84), DB Deonte Banks (36)

K Graham Gano (9)

WR Parris Campbell (0)

DB Nick McCloud (44)

QB Tyrod Taylor (2)

LB Jarrad Davis (57)

WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)

DB Cor'dale Flott (28)

S Dane Belton (24)

WR Darius Slayton (86)

P Jamie Gillan (6)

DL Dexter Lawrence II (97)

WR Jalin Hyatt (84)

RB Eric Gray (20)

DB Deonte Banks (36)

DB Deonte Banks (36)

DB Deonte Banks (36)

DB Deonte Banks (36)

DB Deonte Banks (36)

DB Deonte Banks (36)

DB Deonte Banks (36)

WR Jalin Hyatt (84)

DB Deonte Banks (36)

WR Jalin Hyatt (84)

WR Jalin Hyatt (84)

WR Jalin Hyatt (84)

WR Jalin Hyatt (84)

WR Jalin Hyatt (84)

WR Jalin Hyatt (84)

RB Eric Gray (20), WR Jalin Hyatt (84), DB Deonte Banks (36)

RB Eric Gray (20)

RB Eric Gray (20)

RB Eric Gray (20)

RB Eric Gray (20)

OL John Michael Schmitz Jr (61)

OL John Michael Schmitz Jr (61)

RB Eric Gray (20)

OL John Michael Schmitz Jr (61)

OL John Michael Schmitz Jr (61)

OL John Michael Schmitz Jr (61)

DL Jordan Riley (95)

WR Bryce Ford-Wheaton (6)

DL Jordan Riley (95)

DL Jordan Riley (95)

WR Bryce Ford-Wheaton (6)

WR Bryce Ford-Wheaton (6)

DB Tre Hawkins III (37)

DB Tre Hawkins III (37)

P Jamie Gillan (6)

P Jamie Gillan (6)

DB Tre Hawkins III (37)

DB Tre Hawkins III (37)

DB Tre Hawkins III (37)

DB Jason Pinnock (27)

OLB Habakkuk Baldonado (45)

OLB Habakkuk Baldonado (45)

OLB Habakkuk Baldonado (45)

DB Gervarrius Owens (31)

DB Jason Pinnock (27)

DB Gervarrius Owens (31)

DB Gervarrius Owens (31)

DB Jason Pinnock (27)

DB Jason Pinnock (27)

K Graham Gano (9)

K Graham Gano (9)

LB Troy Brown (46)

K Graham Gano (9)

K Graham Gano (9)

TE Darren Waller (12)

DB Leonard Johnson (35)

DB Leonard Johnson (35)

DB Leonard Johnson (35)

TE Darren Waller (12)

DE Ryder Anderson (90)

DE Ryder Anderson (90)

DE Ryder Anderson (90)

DE Ryder Anderson (90)

TE Darren Waller (12)

TE Darren Waller (12)

DL Dexter Lawrence II (97)

TE Darren Waller (12)

DL Dexter Lawrence II (97)

DL Dexter Lawrence II (97)

DL Dexter Lawrence II (97)

DL Dexter Lawrence II (97)

LB Troy Brown (46)

LB Jarrad Davis (57)

LB Jarrad Davis (57)

LB Jarrad Davis (57)

LB Jarrad Davis (57)

DB Darnay Holmes (30)

WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)

DB Darnay Holmes (30)

DB Darnay Holmes (30)

WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)

LB Jihad Ward (55)

LB Jihad Ward (55)

WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)

WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)

LB Jihad Ward (55)

LB Jihad Ward (55)

LB Jihad Ward (55)

LB Jihad Ward (55)

OL J.C. Hassenaauer (63)

DL Rakeem Nunez-Roches Sr (93)

OL J.C. Hassenaauer (63)

DL Rakeem Nunez-Roches Sr (93)

OL J.C. Hassenaauer (63)

DL Rakeem Nunez-Roches Sr (93)

WR Parris Campbell (0)

DL Rakeem Nunez-Roches Sr (93)

WR Parris Campbell (0)

WR Parris Campbell (0)

WR Parris Campbell (0)

S Xavier McKinney (29)

LB Bobby Okereke (58)

WR Parris Campbell (0)

LB Bobby Okereke (58)

LB Bobby Okereke (58)

LB Bobby Okereke (58)

WR Jaydon Mickens (88)

LB Bobby Okereke (58)

S Xavier McKinney (29)

S Xavier McKinney (29)

S Xavier McKinney (29)

WR Jaydon Mickens (88)

OL Evan Neal (73)

S Xavier McKinney (29)

S Xavier McKinney (29)

S Xavier McKinney (29)

OL Mark Glowinski (64)

S Xavier McKinney (29)

OL Mark Glowinski (64)

OL Evan Neal (73)

OL Mark Glowinski (64)

WR Makai Polk (87)

OL Evan Neal (73)

RB Matt Breida (31)

RB Matt Breida (31)

RB Matt Breida (31)

RB Matt Breida (31)

LB Carter Coughlin (52)

LB Carter Coughlin (52)

LB Carter Coughlin (52)

WR Jamison Crowder (80)

WR Jamison Crowder (80)

WR Jamison Crowder (80)

TE Tommy Sweeney (89)

TE Tommy Sweeney (89)

WR Makai Polk (87)

LB Cam Brown (47)

TE Lawrence Cager (83)

LS Casey Kreiter (59)

LB Cam Brown (47)

TE Lawrence Cager (83)

TE Lawrence Cager (83)

LS Casey Kreiter (59)

LB Elerson Smith (94)

OLB Tomon Fox (49)

WR Jeff Smith II (19)

LS Casey Kreiter (59)

OLB Tomon Fox (49)

LB Elerson Smith (94)

OLB Tomon Fox (49)

WR Jeff Smith II (19)

LB Azeez Ojulari (51)

LB Azeez Ojulari (51)

LB Azeez Ojulari (51)

LB Azeez Ojulari (51)

LB Azeez Ojulari (51)

DB Nick McCloud (44)

DB Nick McCloud (44)

DB Nick McCloud (44)

TE Daniel Bellinger (82)

DB Nick McCloud (44)

OT Andrew Thomas (78)

TE Daniel Bellinger (82)

TE Daniel Bellinger (82)

TE Daniel Bellinger (82)

OL Ben Bredeson (68)

OL Ben Bredeson (68)

OL Ben Bredeson (68)

RB Gary Brightwell (23)

RB Gary Brightwell (23)

RB Gary Brightwell (23)

DT DJ Davidson (98)

LB Micah McFadden (41)

DT DJ Davidson (98)

LB Micah McFadden (41)

DL Vernon Butler (96)

LB Micah McFadden (41)

LB Oshane Ximines (53)

LB Oshane Ximines (53)

OT Andrew Thomas (78)

OT Andrew Thomas (78)

LB Oshane Ximines (53)

OT Andrew Thomas (78)

OT Andrew Thomas (78)

DB Aaron Robinson (33)

OT Andrew Thomas (78)

OT Andrew Thomas (78)

DB Aaron Robinson (33)

OL Matt Peart (74)

DB Aaron Robinson (33)

OL Tyre Phillips (79)

OL Tyre Phillips (79)

OL Matt Peart (74)

OL Tyre Phillips (79)

S Dane Belton (24)

OL Matt Peart (74)

OL Corey Cunningham (70)

S Dane Belton (24)

OL Corey Cunningham (70)


DB Cor'dale Flott (28)

DB Cor'dale Flott (28)

LB Darrian Beavers (43)

LB Darrian Beavers (43)

LB Darrian Beavers (43)

LB Darrian Beavers (43)

LB Darrian Beavers (43)

WR Darius Slayton (86)

WR Darius Slayton (86)

WR Isaiah Hodgins (18)

WR Isaiah Hodgins (18)

WR Isaiah Hodgins (18)

DB Adoree' Jackson (22)

OL Shane Lemieux (66)

WR Isaiah Hodgins (18), WR Darius Slayton (86)

OL Shane Lemieux (66)

OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)

WR Kalil Pimpleton (81)

DB Adoree' Jackson (22)

DB Adoree' Jackson (22)

DB Adoree' Jackson (22)

WR Collin Johnson (15)

OL Joshua Ezeudu (75)

OL Jack Anderson (77)

OL Joshua Ezeudu (75)

OL Jack Anderson (77)

OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)

WR David Sills V (13)

OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)

WR Collin Johnson (15)

QB Tyrod Taylor (2)

OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)

TE Chris Myarick (85)

TE Chris Myarick (85)

WR Sterling Shepard (3)

QB Tyrod Taylor (2)

QB Tyrod Taylor (2)

QB Daniel Jones (8)

WR Sterling Shepard (3), QB Tyrod Taylor (2)

QB Daniel Jones (8)

WR Sterling Shepard (3)

WR Sterling Shepard (3)

WR Sterling Shepard (3)

WR Sterling Shepard (3)

QB Daniel Jones (8)

QB Daniel Jones (8)

QB Daniel Jones (8)

QB Daniel Jones (8)

QB Daniel Jones (8)

DB Deonte Banks (36)

DB Deonte Banks (36)

NT Jordan Riley (95)

RB Eric Gray (20-O)

RB Eric Gray (20-O)

LB Troy Brown (46)

OL John Michael Schmitz Jr (61)

DB Leonard Johnson (35)

DB Leonard Johnson (35)

OLB Habakkuk Baldonado (45)

OLB Habakkuk Baldonado (45)

OL John Michael Schmitz Jr (61)

OLB Habakkuk Baldonado (45)

OL John Michael Schmitz Jr (61)

OL John Michael Schmitz Jr (61)

DB Jason Pinnock (27)

LS Casey Kreiter (59)

DB Jason Pinnock (27)

WR Makai Polk (87)

LB Elerson Smith (94)

LB Elerson Smith (94)

LB Elerson Smith (94)

TE Lawrence Cager (83)

LS Casey Kreiter (59)

TE Lawrence Cager (83)

DB Deonte Banks (36)

K Graham Gano (9)

P Jamie Gillan (6)

DE Ryder Anderson (90)

OLB Tomon Fox (49)

DB Deonte Banks (36)

LB Jihad Ward (55)

WR Jalin Hyatt (84)

DB Tre Hawkins III (37)

DL Dexter Lawrence II (97)

LB Jihad Ward (55)

DL Dexter Lawrence II (97)

DL Dexter Lawrence II (97)

WR Parris Campbell (0)

TE Darren Waller (12)

S Xavier McKinney (29)

TE Darren Waller (12)