The Miami Dolphins have made another major roster move following their headline-grabbing trade that sent Jalen Ramsey and Jonnu Smith to the Pittsburgh Steelers. This time, they’re bringing back a familiar offensive threat — not from their past, but from the league’s recent memory.
Tight end Darren Waller is officially out of retirement and on his way to South Beach. Waller, 32, had informed the New York Giants — his most recent team — that he would only return to the NFL if he could play in Miami.
“Darren Waller retired last summer, but he recently informed the Giants he wanted to play again — only if he could do it in Miami. Now he gets his wish,” NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported. “He’ll sign an adjusted, incentive-laden deal to complete the trade.”
In exchange, the Giants will receive a 2026 sixth-round pick from the Dolphins and a conditional 2027 seventh-rounder.
“The Giants get a 2026 sixth-round pick from Miami for Darren Waller and a conditional 2027 seventh-rounder, per source,” Pelissero added. “Essentially a free pick for New York for a player who was retired, and a low-risk flier for Miami on a player who at his peak was one of the NFL’s best.”
Waller’s peak came during his time with the Raiders, where he posted back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons and established himself as one of the league’s elite tight ends. After a brief and injury-marred stint with the Giants and a year away from football pursuing a rap career, he’s returning to the NFL for a ninth season and joining his fourth team after previously playing with the Ravens, Raiders, and Giants.
His return comes just as the Dolphins created a major void at tight end by dealing Smith to the Steelers as part of their earlier blockbuster trade. While the Dolphins received safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and a fifth-round pick in that deal, the offensive depth took a hit — especially after Smith’s career-best 2024 season.
NFL.com’s Ed Edholm had already questioned the move from head coach Mike McDaniel’s perspective, writing, “This trade sent away the Dolphins’ leading pass catcher from 2024 and one of its most talented defenders… But the lack of depth at certain spots has to really worry McDaniel.”
Waller will now be tasked with helping to patch that hole, albeit as a low-risk gamble with big upside. Whether he can reclaim his old form remains to be seen — but in a turbulent offseason for the Dolphins, the move adds another wrinkle to one of the league’s most scrutinized franchises.
