The Giants turned the rights to retired tight end Darren…
The Giants turned the rights to retired tight end Darren Waller, while also sending a conditional 2027 seventh-rounder, into Miami's 2026 sixth-round pick. That selection became No. 192 and New York used it on Illinois offensive lineman J.C. Davis. The deal created draft value from a player who had not played in 2024, although Davis remains too early in his career for a complete long-term judgment.
Miami Dolphins Received
- player Darren Waller
- pick Conditional 2027 7th round pick
New York Giants Received
- pick 2026 6th round pick (192nd overall, J.C. Davis )
Trade Analysis
Why Miami Made the Move
Darren Waller had retired after the 2023 season, but the Dolphins acquired his rights when he decided he wanted to return. Miami received Waller plus a conditional 2027 seventh-round pick and sent the Giants a 2026 sixth-round choice. The acquisition was a calculated attempt to add a proven receiving tight end without paying premium draft capital.
Waller's 2025 Return
The move produced immediate scoring value. Waller appeared in nine games for Miami in 2025, caught 24 passes for 283 yards and scored six touchdowns. The volume was not that of his peak Raiders seasons, but six touchdowns from a player acquired for late-round draft capital gave the Dolphins a useful return. His Miami tenure was brief, so the value should not be treated as a long-term franchise win.
What New York Received
The Giants gained a sixth-round asset for a player who had spent the previous season retired. That selection became the 192nd pick in the 2026 draft, which New York used on Illinois offensive lineman J.C. Davis. The Giants also sent a conditional 2027 seventh-round pick in the deal, so their return was not a clean sixth-rounder for Waller alone. Davis is only beginning his NFL career, making his eventual value unresolved.
How to Grade It Now
Miami has the clearest realized result: Waller returned to the field and scored six touchdowns in nine games. New York deserves credit for creating a draft asset from Waller's rights and turning it into a young lineman, but the final value of that selection cannot yet be known.
Final Verdict
Miami Dolphins Win. Miami earns a B for obtaining useful 2025 touchdown production at a modest acquisition cost. New York earns a B-minus for converting Waller's rights into the pick used on Davis, with room for that grade to improve if Davis develops into a contributor.