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Giants TE Darren Waller To Miss Time

November 1st, 2023 at 2:04pm CST by Sam Robinson

Darren Waller is unlikely to be in uniform when the Giants face the Raiders, nixing the Week 9 reunion encounter. The veteran tight end also cited his last Raiders season in pointing to a potential multiweek absence this year.

Once again battling a hamstring injury, Waller said he expects to be out “weeks,” per the New York Daily News’ Pat Leonard. Referring to this latest hamstring malady as one that “might take a little bit” to heal, Waller expects to miss time. While Waller has appeared on the Giants’ injury report with groin and hamstring trouble this season, he has played in every game this season.

But the talented tight end referenced his 2022 hamstring injury, one that caused him to miss eight games last season, regarding his potential plans for rehabbing this latest ailment. Waller, 31, said (via The Athletic’s Dan Duggan) he rushed back from last season’s hamstring injury, which caused him to be shut down again. Waller missed three games but appeared close to returning midway through last season, but an aggravation led to the Raiders placing him on IR. Waller spent five weeks on IR. The Raiders then expressed frustration with Waller during his stay on IR; the team parted ways with him via the March trade.

The Raiders swiftly bailed on the power structure that jettisoned Waller, who had been a key performer for the team during the Jon Gruden years. The Josh McDaniels–Dave Ziegler regime still extended Waller just before the start of last season, after an aggressive push — which included an agent change — by the Pro Bowl tight end. The Raiders traded Waller for the No. 100 overall pick this year and replaced him by drafting Michael Mayer in Round 2.

Effectively punting on the tight end position following Evan Engram‘s Jaguars defection, the Giants have Waller signed through 2026. While they could have moved on free of charge after this season, an offseason restructure will prevent that. Talk of a future separation are premature, as Waller has helped a struggling offense this year. His 384 receiving yards lead the Giants; he caught seven passes for 98 yards in their win over the Commanders.

2023 NFL Trades

October 31st, 2023 at 10:16pm CST by Sam Robinson

The 2023 NFL trading period is now over. Dozens of trades — some in the roster-reshaping mold, others executed for depth purposes — ended up coming to pass. Since the NFL moved its trade deadline from Week 6 to Week 8 in 2012, trades have gradually become a more important part of the league’s roster builds.

An argument can be made the NFL should move its deadline deeper into the season, as the MLB, NBA and NHL deadlines come after the midpoint. The NFL moving to a 17-game/18-week slate in 2021, after 43 years at 16 games, also factors into this line of thinking. For now, the league will still force its buyers and sellers to assess their teams fully by Week 8.

To gauge the value of the moves teams have made, here are the trades completed across the league in 2023. (Note: only trades involving veteran players, as opposed to draft-weekend deals only involving picks, are listed here.)

January 31

The Saints chose defensive tackle Bryan Bresee at No. 29 overall

March 9

March 10

  • Bears send Panthers No. 1 overall pick in exchange for No. 9, No. 61, a 2024 first-rounder and 2025 second

The Panthers chose Bryce Young first overall; the Bears traded down from No. 9 to No. 19, drafting tackle Darnell Wright. Trading up from No. 61 to No. 56, Chicago chose cornerback Tyrique Stevenson.

March 12

The Rams selected outside linebacker Byron Young at No. 77 overall

March 13

New England selected defensive back Isaiah Bolden at No. 245

March 14

Houston used the No. 230 pick in a package to trade up for center Juice Scruggs in Round 2; Tampa Bay packaged No. 179 to move up for guard Cody Mauch in Round 2

At No. 100, the Raiders drafted wide receiver Tre Tucker

The Colts selected running back Evan Hull at No. 176

March 20

The Texans used No. 161 to trade up for wide receiver Tank Dell

March 22

The Jets included No. 42 in the picks package sent to the Packers for Aaron Rodgers; the Browns chose wide receiver Cedric Tillman at No. 74

March 25

April 11

The Lions packaged No. 159 to move up for defensive back Brian Branch in Round 2

April 18

The Rams agreed to pay $5MM of Robinson’s 2023 salary. At No. 234, the Rams chose cornerback Jason Taylor II; at 251, the Steelers selected offensive lineman Spencer Anderson.

April 24

  • Packers send QB Aaron Rodgers, Nos. 15, 170 to Jets for Nos. 13, 42, 207, conditional 2024 second-round pick

Rodgers needed to play 65% of the Jets’ 2023 offensive snaps for the 2024 pick to become a first-rounder; his Week 1 Achilles tear will prevent that from happening. At No. 13, the Packers chose pass rusher Lukas Van Ness; at 15, the Jets took defensive end Will McDonald. At Nos. 42 and 207, Green Bay respectively chose tight end Luke Musgrave and kicker Anders Carlson. The Jets moved down from No. 170, picking up an additional seventh-round pick. 

April 29

At No. 219, the Lions chose wide receiver Antoine Green; at 249, the Eagles selected defensive tackle Moro Ojomo

The Saints chose wide receiver A.T. Perry at No. 195; the Broncos selected center Alex Forsyth at 257

May 12

May 25

July 19

  • Jets move WR Denzel Mims, 2025 seventh-round pick to Lions for conditional 2025 sixth-rounder

Mims needed to make the Lions’ 53-man roster for the pick to convey. With the Lions cutting Mims with an injury settlement in August, the Jets will not end up receiving a pick in this trade.

August 24

August 25

August 27

August 28

August 29

September 20

Akers must tally more than 500 yards from scrimmage to meet the conditional requirement

October 4

October 6

The Broncos agreed to pay all but the prorated veteran minimum of Gregory’s 2023 base salary

October 10

October 18

October 23

October 30

Giants agreed to pay all but the prorated veteran minimum on Williams’ remaining $10MM in base salary

Street must play in at least six games as a Falcon to meet the conditional requirement

October 31

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/31/23

October 31st, 2023 at 9:15pm CST by Ely Allen

Here are Tuesday’s practice squad transactions in the NFL:

Arizona Cardinals

Buffalo Bills

Chicago Bears

Cleveland Browns

Dallas Cowboys

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Kansas City Chiefs

Las Vegas Raiders

New York Giants

New York Jets

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Tennessee Titans

Washington Commanders

Minor NFL Transactions: 10/31/23

October 31st, 2023 at 9:05pm CST by Ely Allen

Here are the NFL’s minor moves for today:

Atlanta Falcons

  • Signed off Bears’ practice squad: DT Travis Bell
  • Placed on IR: DT Grady Jarrett (story)

Chicago Bears

Detroit Lions

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Kansas City Chiefs

Los Angeles Chargers

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

New York Giants

New York Jets

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Kareem, who was just activated off of injured reserve, is being waived to make room for defensive end Montez Sweat, acquired by trade this morning. The Bears also announced a practice squad release, indicating a possible return for Kareem on that unit. The Colts are expected to do the same with Boettger.

O’Connor will lose his active roster spot to make room for quarterback John Wolford, whom Tampa Bay officially promoted today in order to ward off interest parties such as the Rams and Vikings, both of whom are experiencing injury issues at quarterback.

Giants Unlikely To Trade Adoree’ Jackson, Xavier McKinney

October 31st, 2023 at 9:22am CST by Sam Robinson

Two of the Giants’ secondary starters are in contract years, and after the Leonard Williams deal, sales rumors have surrounded the Giants. Saquon Barkley continues to come up, despite the team’s insistence he will not be moved. Both Adoree’ Jackson and Xavier McKinney also loom as potential trade chips.

Jackson’s three-year contract — authorized during Dave Gettleman‘s final year as GM — and McKinney’s rookie deal both expire after the season. The Giants are undoubtedly open for business, but neither player is looking likely to be moved before today’s 3pm deadline. The Giants do not appear to be interested in moving McKinney, per the New York Post’s Ryan Dunleavy, who adds the team is also not especially motivated to trade Jackson.

The Jackson situation is a bit more complicated than McKinney’s. At the veteran cornerback’s request, the Giants engaged in offseason extension talks. Though, Fox Sports’ Ralph Vacchiano notes those did not progress much. The Giants were not too keen on hammering out an offseason extension. They also would be hit with some dead money, with Monday’s deadline to restructure veteran contracts — to help facilitate trades — having come and gone. The Giants would be hit with a $7.5MM dead-money charge by trading Jackson now, and because the deadline passed, ESPN.com’s Jordan Raanan adds the team is unlikely to move the former first-round pick.

Jackson, 28, is attached to a three-year, $39MM deal that calls for an $11MM 2023 base salary. With Williams off New York’s balance sheet, Jackson holds the team’s highest cap number ($19.1MM). The Giants will be hit with a near-$3MM dead-money charge if/when Jackson departs as a free agent, thanks to a 2024 void year inserted into the contract via a restructure.

McKinney would figure to generate more interest, given his age (24) and experience. The Giants have moved on from Jabrill Peppers, Logan Ryan and Julian Love over the past two offseasons, leaving McKinney as a last man standing among the Gettleman-assembled safety corps. The Giants were not interested in discussing an extension with McKinney this offseason, however, leaving some ambiguity about the team’s plans for the former second-round pick’s long-term future.

Pro Football Focus has Jackson rated as one of this season’s worst corners, slotting him outside the top 110 at the position. He committed a crucial pass interference penalty in the ugly overtime loss to the Jets, setting New York’s AFC team up for a short game-winning field goal. The former Titans draftee does not appear to have a post-2023 future in New York, with Deonte Banks and Tre Hawkins in place as rookie-contract starters signed through 2026. McKinney’s Big Apple future remains to be seen, but the Giants lost Love after letting him play out a contract year. It will be interesting to see if the Alabama alum is in the Joe Schoen regime’s plans.

Giants, Seahawks Agree To Leonard Williams Trade

October 30th, 2023 at 10:36pm CST by Adam La Rose

The next major trade domino has fallen. The Giants are sending defensive lineman Leonard Williams to the Seahawks, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

In exchange, Seattle is sending a 2024 second-round pick and a 2025 fifth-rounder to New York. The deal marks an end to Williams’ time in the Big Apple and puts to rest long-running questions about his future with the organization. It will also give Seattle a signficant boost along the defensive front.

As part of the agreement, the Giants restructured Williams’ deal. They will pay out $9.35MM of Williams’ remaining salary as a signing bonus, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. That will allow for proration into void years. As a result of that move – which will help the Seahawks absorb his remaining 2023 salary and his cap hit, and no doubt played a role in helping the price include a Day 2 pick – the trade will not be official until after 3pm today. Indeed, Albert Breer of SI reports the Giants will retain all but the veteran’s minimum before sending Williams westward. Another factor which drove up Williams’ price was the interest he generated amongst contending teams.

Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz notes the Giants had “several suitors” in on the 29-year-old. Seattle has outbid the other teams which showed interest, though, and they will now take on Williams for at least the remainder of the season (which calls for a 2023 salary of $18MM). The Seahawks will take on roughly $650K of that figure as Williams looks to contribute to a playoff contender ahead of free agency in March.

A three-year, $63MM extension signed in 2021 left Williams with the league’s highest cap hit amongst defenders this season. For that reason, many speculated that an extension or restructure would be worked out. The former Jets first-rounder made it clear he was open to another Giants contract, but general manager Joe Schoen insisted throughout the offseason no such move would be coming. After standing pat during the summer, New York has now swung a deal ensuring greater draft compensation than the team would have been due in the event Williams walked in free agency. As Pelissero’s colleague Ian Rapoport notes, the Giants knew the possibility of Williams departing in the spring was high.

The Seahawks entered Monday with less cap space than the roughly $10MM remaining on Williams’ deal. As a result, the Giants’ decision to retain essentially all of his outstanding compensation was necessary. While that will hinder their 2023 cap situation, it will provide some clarity moving forward with a number of other extensions on the team’s priority list. Seattle, meanwhile, will see another high-profile veteran join a new-look defensive front.

Uchenna Nwosu‘s season-ending injury helped bring about a Seahawks reunion with Frank Clark. The latter will help in the edge rush department, while Williams will aim to provide a starting-caliber presence along the interior. His 2023 performance (21 tackles, 1.5 sacks) has fallen short of his previous years in New York, but the USC alum will have the chance to boost his free agent stock on a Seattle front which underwent signficant changes this offseason.

Most significantly, that included signing Dre’Mont Jones to a lucrative pact in free agency. The former Bronco has registered a pair of sacks so far while logging a starter’s role on a defense which ranks eighth against the run. Seattle will look to upgrade in the interior pass-rush department with Williams now in the fold, though the team already sits in the top five in sacks (26).

While this will likely be the only major move made by the Seahawks ahead of tomorrow afternoon’s deadline, the Giants have been named as a team to watch in the seller’s category. They have made clear their intention of retaining Saquon Barkley, but other players could be on the move. It will be interesting to see how New York approaches its remaining deadline plans, and how much of an effect this deal has on the market for other notable defenders.

Teams Calling Giants On Saquon Barkley

October 30th, 2023 at 10:25pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Giants’ Leonard Williams trade has provided a fairly clear signal the Giants are fine building for the future. After their surprise surge to the 2022 divisional round, the Giants sit 2-6 and not in position to contend this season.

Saquon Barkley has said he does not want to be traded, and Brian Daboll attempted to squash trade overtures last week by saying a deal was “not happening.” But teams are still checking in. Clubs have continued to contact the Giants on Barkley, Jeff Howe of The Athletic tweets. Once again, the Giants rebuffed inquiries, with CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson confirming teams have received no’s on Barkley inquiries.

With just less than 24 hours until the trade deadline, teams’ interest certainly makes sense — especially now that the Giants moved Williams to the Seahawks. Injuries on offense have driven the Giants to this 2-6 hole, with Sunday’s Jets loss featuring the fewest team passing yards — minus-9 — in the NFL this century. Barkley still displayed quality work, putting together a 36-carry, 128-yard performance despite the team refusing to allow UDFA Tommy DeVito to throw. Barkley, 26, suffered a high ankle sprain in Week 2; Sunday provided a decent refresher that the franchise-tagged back is once again healthy.

With the Giants having played eight games, an acquiring team would be on the hook for nine weeks of Barkley’s $10.1MM salary. That works out to just more than $5.5MM. The Giants are paying most of the remaining $10MM on Williams’ salary, but seeing as the team is keeping Barkley off the market, it would stand to reason it is not exactly open to paying some of the Pro Bowl back’s salary to facilitate a trade. Seeing as Barkley is on the tag, however, he does remain an interesting piece that teams clearly are not giving up on potentially obtaining.

The Giants and Barkley could not come to terms on a summer extension, despite negotiations having begun in November 2022. Barkley, who was dangled in trades during the 2022 offseason, was six minutes from free agency at the March deadline to apply franchise tags. But the Giants reaching an extension agreement with Daniel Jones prevented the more talented player from testing the market. The sides then engaged in an unusual negotiation leading up to the July 17 extension deadline for tagged players. The Giants upped Barkley’s guarantees to the $22MM neighborhood but reduced his AAV number in the process. In the end, the sides were less than $2MM apart in terms of guaranteed money and AAV. No deal transpired, opening the door to a Barkley 2024 departure.

While Barkley was obviously interested in gauging his worth in free agency, he has repeatedly said he wants to stay with the Giants. The team will have the option of tagging the former No. 2 overall pick once again, at just more than $12MM, next year. Keeping Barkley past this year’s deadline will keep that option open for the Giants, though considering they extended Jones, Dexter Lawrence and Andrew Thomas and tagged Barkley, it is worth wondering if the New Jersey native is a core piece any longer.

Teams are seeing if that remains the case. The Ravens and Dolphins are believed to be looking into running back additions. Miami asked about Barkley this summer, but it did not appear the teams discussed him for long. With the Titans either committed to keeping Derrick Henry or holding out hope for a big offer, teams are looking into Barkley. As of Monday afternoon, the Penn State alum is being kept off the market.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/30/23

October 30th, 2023 at 6:16pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s practice squad transactions:

Atlanta Falcons

  • Signed: LB Donavan Mutin
  • Released: P Pat O’Donnell

Chicago Bears

Indianapolis Colts

Miami Dolphins

New York Giants

  • Signed: CB Stantley Thomas-Oliver

Pittsburgh Steelers

Seattle Seahawks

  • Signed: C Joey Hunt
  • Released: OL Greg Eiland

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

  • Signed: CB Derrek Pitts
  • Released: LB Brandon Bouyer-Randle

Mykal Walker has found a new home after getting cut by the Raiders last week. The former fourth-round pick spent the first three seasons of his career with the Falcons, including a 2022 campaign where he collected a career-high 107 tackles in 16 games (12 starts). However, since that breakout season, the linebacker has struggled to hold a job. He was waived by Atlanta back in August and was claimed by the Bears, but Chicago ended up cutting him at the end of the preseason. Walker later joined the Raiders practice squad and spent about a month in Las Vegas.

Minor NFL Transactions: 10/30/23

October 30th, 2023 at 5:42pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

  • Signed to active roster: RB Devine Ozigbo
  • Promoted: OL Michael Niese

Las Vegas Raiders

New York Giants

Tennessee Titans

After getting cut by the Steelers earlier this month, Gunner Olszewski quickly caught on with New York’s practice squad. They Giants signed the receiver/returner to the active roster ahead of yesterday’s game against the Jets, and their decision to release him today was merely procedural. As NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero points out, all vested vets who are released following tomorrow’s trade deadline are subject to waivers. The Giants are apparently getting ahead of that deadline with this roster machination. Per Pelissero, Olszewski is expected to re-sign with the Giants and will play in Week 9.

Daniel Jones Receives Clearance; Giants QB In Line To Start Week 9

October 30th, 2023 at 9:48am CST by Adam La Rose

The Giants’ offense is on track to move closer to full strength as early as next week. Quarterback Daniel Jones has been cleared for contact, as first reported by Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post.

Jones was actually given the green light prior to Sunday’s game, Dunleavy notes, but it comes as no surprise that the Giants played it safe by ensuring at least one week of full practice. Given the injury suffered by Tyrod Taylor on Sunday, Jones’ return would be welcomed by a team in desperate need of improvement in the passing game.

The Giants mustered negative nine passing yards in their overtime loss to the Jets on Sunday, a game in which undrafted rookie Tommy DeVito took over following Taylor’s injury. New York’s offense relied all-but exclusively on running back Saquon Barkley, who logged 36 carries in the game. The latter will no doubt remain the focal point of the Giants’ offense once Jones returns, but such a scenario will give the team another starter in the fold.

Jones has missed the past three games due to his latest neck injury, one which has been described as being less severe than the one suffered in 2021 which ended his season. The risk of reinjury was high in the event Jones was rushed back into action, however, making it no surprise the Giants elected to wait until the former first-rounder logged a slate of full practices before bringing him back into the lineup.

An IR stint was never a consideration on New York’s part, but recent reports pointed to Week 10 as their targeted return date for Jones. Bringing their franchise passer back one week earlier than that would help compensate for Taylor’s absence in the event he is forced to miss time, but it would no doubt invite questions about Jones’ ability to rebound from a slow start to the season. 2023 – the first year of his four-year, $160MM extension – has not gone according to plan for the 26-year-old individually or the 2-6 Giants collectively.

Jones’ participation in practice will be worth watching in the coming days as he prepares for a likely return to action in advance of New York’s Week 9 game against the Raiders. It will also be interesting to see what moves (if any) the Giants make in the next two days with respect to the trade deadline.

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