Who Should I Start? Darren Waller or Adam Thielen

Monday, June 3, 10:01 AM

New York Giants tight end Darren Waller is expected to make a decision on his 2024 playing status by next week's mini-camp, and people in and around the organization expect he will announce his retirement, according to Jordan Raanan of ESPN. Waller has had a tough time staying healthy lately, as he's missed 19 games over the last three years with lingering lower-body injuries. The 31-year-old posted consecutive 1,000-yard seasons with the Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders in 2019 and 2020, but he hasn't reached 700 yards since. If Waller decides to call it a career, target competition for No. 6 overall pick Malik Nabers will be even further reduced. Meanwhile, Daniel Bellinger and rookie Theo Johnson will likely compete for TE1 duties. Either player will have limited upside in Daniel Jones' offense. Whether Waller continues to play or not, his career exceeded expectations considering he was a converted wide receiver and had fewer than 200 receiving yards to his name in the three years before his 2019 breakout season.

Sunday, January 7, 5:35 PM

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Adam Thielen caught two of his three targets for 12 yards in a 9-0 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 18. Thielen was quiet in the season finale, although his 12 receiving yards were good enough for second-most on the team on an afternoon where Bryce Young only threw for 94 yards. Thielen finishes his first season with the Panthers with 103 catches for 1,014 yards and four touchdowns. He's under contract with Carolina for two more seasons with a potential out after the 2024 campaign.