NFL insider Michael Lombardi claims low-cost worth for Darren Waller is about ‘sturdiness’

When Darren Waller was moved to the New York Giants initially of free company, many questioned, “Why now?”

On March 14, Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel tweeted the Packers offered their second-round choose in trade for the 30-year-old tight finish in the course of the common season final yr.

However afterward, Las Vegas traded Waller in trade for a third-round choose, taking even much less for the one-time Professional Bowler.

League insider and former NFL Community analyst Michael Lombardi weighed in on the commerce.

“That is about sturdiness,” Lombardi, who’s a former receivers coach for the Patriots, stated on his podcast The GM Shuffle associated to Waller.

“That is about ‘I’m on the point of pay you $11 million, we redid your contract and on the bye week, as a substitute of rehabbing, you went residence for 4 days and accrued the fines. On the bye week, you went residence and simply didn’t speak to anyone. Simply went residence and left a message saying ‘hey, fantastic me. I don’t care. I’m going to southern California…”

Lombardi himself has two sons who’re employed by the Raiders, giving extra credence to this report.

However that is only one facet of what may very well be a biased story.

Regardless, the Giants want to wrap their arms round Waller and make him a key a part of this rebuilding offense that already added Parris Campbell and resigned Darius Slayton.

Waller has $11 million on his contract this yr, and his contract subsequent yr will not be assured, making the 2023 season a prove-it deal for the oft-injured tight finish.

He has solely performed 18 of 33 doable video games within the final two seasons.

However Waller nonetheless has an amazing quantity of upside.

Throughout his Professional Bowl yr in 2020, Waller recorded 107 receptions, a league-leading file amongst tight ends, on 1,196 yards.