Daniel Jones didn't mince words when he was asked about Darren Waller on the first day of the offseason workout program.
"I think he's a clear mismatch," the franchise quarterback said about the dynamic tight end, who was acquired via trade this offseason.
Jones won't throw to him in a true offense vs. defense practice setting until organized team activities (OTAs) next month, but Waller's reputation precedes himself. And so does his tape.
The 6-foot-6, 255-pound tight end has amassed 298 catches for 3,572 yards and 19 touchdowns in 74 games (52 starts) for the Raiders (2018-2022) and Ravens, who originally selected him in the sixth round of the 2015 NFL Draft.
Waller's 107 receptions in 2020 are tied for fourth-most by a tight end in NFL history. Only six others have reached the 100-catch plateau: Zach Ertz, Travis Kelce (three times), Jason Witten, Mark Andrews, Tony Gonzalez, and Dallas Clark. Waller is one of six tight ends to record 200 receiving yards in a single game, hitting that exact number in a 2020 game against the New York Jets.
"[He is] someone the defense has to worry about how they are going to account for him, how they are going to cover him, who they are going to put on him and how they are going to play it," Jones said. "I think that just adds an element to our attack and gives the defense something else to worry about when you have a guy that big and that strong who can move like he can and open up the field. Just gives them something to worry about. We'll be able to move him around, use him in certain places and take advantage of his skill set."
View photos from the Giants' offseason workout program at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center.
Daniel Jones (8)
Andrew Thomas (78)
Darren Waller (12)
Parris Campbell (0)
Evan Neal (73)
Jamison Crowder (80)
Tyrod Taylor (2)
Matt Breida (31)
Ben Bredeson (68)
Collin Johnson (15)
Dre Miller (45)
Joshua Ezeudu (75)
Andrew Thomas (78)
Matt Peart (74)
J.C. Hassenauer (63)
Shane Lemieux (66)
Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
Andrew Thomas (78)
Sterling Shepard (3)
Leonard Williams (99)
Daniel Jones (8)
Azeez Ojulari (51)
Daniel Bellinger (82)
Darren Waller (12)
Isaiah Hodgins (18)
Andrew Thomas (78)
Sterling Shepard (3)
Marcus McKethan (60), Andrew Thomas (78), Matt Peart (74), Ben Bredeson (68), Shane Lemieux (66), Wyatt Davis (67), Devery Hamilton (62), Korey Cunningham (70), Tyre Phillips (79), J.C. Hassenauer, Joshua Ezeudu (75)
Chris Myarick (85)
Collin Johnson (15)
Parris Campbell (0)
J.C. Hassenauer (63)
Dre Miller (45)
Makai Polk (87)
Wyatt Davis (67)
Devery Hamilton (62)
Tyre Phillips (79)
Marcus McKethan (60)
Korey Cunningham (70)
Andrew Thomas (78)
Matt Peart (74)
Parris Campbell (0)
Daniel Bellinger (82)
Andrew Thomas (78)
Makai Polk (87)
Jeff Smith (19)
Isaiah Hodgins (18)
Parris Campbell (0), Darius Slayton (86)
Kalil Pimpleton (81), Jamison Crowder (80)
Graham Gano (9)
Graham Gano (9)
Collin Johnson (15)
Rakeem Nuñez-Roches (93)
Collin Johnson (15), Jeff Smith (19)
Leonard Johnson (35)
Bobby Okereke (58)
Darnay Holmes (30)
Bobby McCain (21)
Adoree' Jackson (22)
Bobby McCain (21)
Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
Terrell Burgess (34)
Nick McCloud (44)
Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
Nick McCloud (44)
Jason Pinnock (27)
Zyon Gilbert
Trenton Thompson (39)
Nick McCloud (44)
Bobby McCain (21)
Micah McFadden (41)
Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
Jihad Ward (55)
Zyon Gilbert (38)
Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
Jamie Gillan (6), Casey Kreiter (59), Graham Gano (9)
Jarrad Davis (57)
Jamie Gillan (6), Casey Kreiter (59), Graham Gano (9)
Marcus McKethan (60), Andrew Thomas (78), Matt Peart (74), Ben Bredeson (68), Shane Lemieux (66), Wyatt Davis (67), Devery Hamilton (62), Korey Cunningham (70), Tyre Phillips (79), J.C. Hassenauer, Joshua Ezeudu (75)
Marcus McKethan (60), Andrew Thomas (78), Matt Peart (74), Ben Bredeson (68), Shane Lemieux (66), Wyatt Davis (67), Devery Hamilton (62), Korey Cunningham (70), Tyre Phillips (79), J.C. Hassenauer, Joshua Ezeudu (75)
Darrian Beavers (43)
Elerson Smith (94)
Leonard Johnson (35)
Leonard Johnson (35)
Azeez Ojulari (51)
Jihad Ward (55)
Azeez Ojulari (51)
Jamie Gillan (6)
Ryder Anderson (90)
Vernon Butler (91), Ryder Anderson (90), Rakeem Nuñez-Roches (93), Leonard Williams (99), D.J. Davidson (98)
Jashaun Corbin (25)
Vernon Butler (91), Ryder Anderson (90), Rakeem Nuñez-Roches (93), Leonard Williams (99), D.J. Davidson (98)
Daniel Jones (8)
Matt Breida (31)
Korey Cunningham (70)
Chris Myarick (85)
Sterling Shepard (3)
Darren Waller (12)
J.C. Hassenauer (63)
Lawrence Cager (83)
Tyrod Taylor (2)
Tyrod Taylor (2)
Sterling Shepard (3)
Lawrence Cager (83)
Daniel Jones (8)
Tyrod Taylor (2)
Andrew Thomas (78)
Darren Waller (12)
Darren Waller (12), Lawrence Cager (83)
Sterling Shepard (3)
Marcus McKethan (60)
Parris Campbell (0)
Dre Miller (45)
Dre Miller (45)
Andrew Thomas (78)
Andrew Thomas (78)
Joshua Ezeudu (75)
Kalil Pimpleton (81)
Kalil Pimpleton (81)
Jeff Smith (19)
Collin Johnson (15)
David Sills V (13)
Collin Johnson (15)
Darnay Holmes (30)
Jason Pinnock (27)
Lawrence Cager (83)
Tommy Sweeney (89)
Leonard Williams (99)
Lawrence Cager (83)
Darnay Holmes (30)
Leonard Williams (99)
Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
Cor'Dale Flott (28)
Makai Polk (87)
Cor'Dale Flott (28)
Rodarius Williams (25)
Darrian Beavers (43)
Devery Hamilton (62), Jihad Ward (55)
Jashaun Corbin (25)
Chris Myarick (85)
Devery Hamilton (62), Jihad Ward (55)
Gary Brightwell (23)
Rodarius Williams (25)
Gary Brightwell (23)
Darren Waller (12)
Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
Isaiah Hodgins (18)
Devery Hamilton (62)
Makai Polk (87)
Matt Breida (31)
Andrew Thomas (78)
Xavier McKinney (29)
Joshua Ezeudu (75)
Korey Cunningham (70)
Marcus McKethan (60)
Terrell Burgess (34)
Darius Slayton (86)
Xavier McKinney (29)
Graham Gano (9), Jamie Gillan (6)
Darren Waller (12)
Adoree' Jackson (22), Tomon Fox (49)
Adoree' Jackson (22), Tomon Fox (49)
Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
Xavier McKinney (29)
Elerson Smith (94)
D.J. Davidson (98)
Rakeem Nuñez-Roches (93)
Tyre Phillips (79)
Darius Slayton (86)
Andrew Thomas (78)
Rakeem Nuñez-Roches (93)
Rakeem Nuñez-Roches (93)
Dane Belton (24), Micah McFadden (41)
Matt Peart (74)
Tyrod Taylor (2)
Devery Hamilton (62)
Kalil Pimpleton (81)
Kalil Pimpleton (81)
J.C. Hassenauer (63)
J.C. Hassenauer (63)
Jack Anderson (77)
Tyrod Taylor (2)
Dre Miller (45)
Evan Neal (73)
Korey Cunningham (70)
Marcus McKethan (60)
Matt Peart (74)
Andrew Thomas (78)
David Sills V (13)
Evan Neal (73)
Lawrence Cager (83)
Tommy Sweeney (89)
Korey Cunningham (70)
Korey Cunningham (70)
Jashaun Corbin (25)
Gary Brightwell (23)
Lawrence Cager (83)
Marcus McKethan (60)
Bobby Okereke (58)
Bobby McCain (21)
Trenton Thompson (39)
Casey Kreiter (58)
D.J. Davidson (98)
Cor'Dale Flott (28)
Terrell Burgess (34)
Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
Leonard Williams (99)
Tomon Fox (49)
Rakeem Nuñez-Roches
Darrian Beavers (43)
Micah McFadden (41)
Nick McCloud (44)
Azeez Ojulari (51)
Darrian Beavers (43)
Micah McFadden (41)
Jamie Gillan (6)
Leonard Johnson (35)
Jarrad Davis (57)
Waller infuses the offense with a weapon capable of doing things that haven't been done a lot in franchise history, let alone recent memory. Waller posted back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in 2019 and 2020, the year he made the Pro Bowl. The Giants have had only one tight end reach 1,000 receiving yards in a single season. Mark Bavaro had 1,001 in 1986.
Meanwhile, no Giant has eclipsed 800 yards or 70 catches in a season since Jones entered the league in 2019. The Giants also ranked last in completions of 20 yards or more in 2022 with 28, which were 21 fewer than the NFL average.
"I think he's certainly a big piece of [the offense], and he brings a lot of that ability," Jones said. "And like I said, he adds something for the defense to worry about with his skill set and his athleticism and how he can get open and get behind the defense. I think he'll be a big part of what we're doing going forward, and it's only the first day of phase one [of the offseason program], so there's a lot of work to do. We have a lot to get done before we play a game."
Until then, safety Xavier McKinney is the one who has to "worry" about Waller.
"Obviously just knowing and seeing the way he plays, his style of play, the threat that he is to defenses, I know for me personally, there are going to be some fun practices because I know I'm a real competitive guy," McKinney said. "I know he is, too. It's going to be fun, and I look forward to it. He's going to make me better. I'll make him better. So, it's going to be some good matchups, and I know he's going to hurt some people on the other side of the ball, too, just being a threat that he is. It's exciting to see, and I'm glad that he's a part of our squad."
View photos of the Giants arriving for the start of the offseason workout program.
Leonard Williams (99)
Darren Waller (12)
Andrew Thomas (78)
Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
Xavier McKinney (29)
Adoree' Jackson (22), Tomon Fox (49)
Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
Darius Slayton (86)
Rakeem Nuñez-Roches (93)
Graham Gano (9), Jamie Gillan (6)
Dane Belton (24), Micah McFadden (41)
Darrian Beavers (43)
Darnay Holmes (30)
Jason Pinnock (27)
Lawrence Cager (83)
Andrew Thomas (78)
Tommy Sweeney (89)
Leonard Williams (99)
Lawrence Cager (83)
Darnay Holmes (30)
Rakeem Nuñez-Roches (93)
Rodarius Williams (25)
Cor'Dale Flott (28)
Makai Polk (87)
Cor'Dale Flott (28)
Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
Devery Hamilton (62), Jihad Ward (55)
Jashaun Corbin (25)
Chris Myarick (85)
Devery Hamilton (62), Jihad Ward (55)
Gary Brightwell (23)
Rodarius Williams (25)
Makai Polk (87)
Devery Hamilton (62)
Isaiah Hodgins (18)
Gary Brightwell (23)
Matt Breida (31)
Xavier McKinney (29)
Joshua Ezeudu (75)
Korey Cunningham (70)
Xavier McKinney (29)
Darius Slayton (86)
Terrell Burgess (34)
Marcus McKethan (60)
Darren Waller (12)
Adoree' Jackson (22), Tomon Fox (49)
Elerson Smith (94)
D.J. Davidson (98)
Rakeem Nuñez-Roches (93)
Tyre Phillips (79)
