July 2, 2025

After a disappointing 12-game stint with the New York Giants in 2023, veteran tight end Darren Waller decided to hang up his cleats. That was three seasons after a Pro Bowl campaign with a Raiders team that had been freshly transplanted from Oakland to Las Vegas. The Georgia Tech product was stellar in 2020, racking up a 107/1,196/9 line across 146 targets to post his second consecutive 1,100-yard season. However, he'd never eclipse more than 55 catches or 665 yards in the three ensuing years -- limited to 12 games or fewer in all of them while battling knee, ankle, and hamstring injuries. With the Dolphins recently moving on from 2024's team reception leader, Jonnu Smith, Waller will get a chance to rewrite the ending of his career. Miami's other personnel at the position -- Julian Hill, Pharaoh Brown, and Tanner Conner -- don't offer the same receiving upside, so he should immediately slot in as the team's preferred option in the passing game. Still, he'll face stiff target competition in running back De'Von Achane and wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. Furthermore, Miami added a decent red zone threat during free agency in wideout Nick Westbrook-Ikhine by way of Tennessee. Smith vacates 111 targets with his move to Pittsburgh, though it isn't guaranteed that Waller garners them all. At 33 years old, it's unlikely he's gotten more explosive, but at least he'll be fresh after a year off football. The veteran is RotoBaller's PPR TE15 and should offer some spike weeks as a low-mid-range TE2. However, predicting when those weeks occur may prove difficult.--Alex Ciulla