Giants: PFF names the team's "X-Factor" for 2023
Every player on the 53-man roster matters when the calendar turns to September, but some positions (quarterback, edge, tackle) matter more than most. Then, there are the unsung heroes that may or may not play critical positions but they make or break a specific unit. Those players are often termed "X-Factors" and PFF thinks Darren […]
Every player on the 53-man roster matters when the calendar turns to September, but some positions (quarterback, edge, tackle) matter more than most.
Then, there are the unsung heroes that may or may not play critical positions but they make or break a specific unit.
Those players are often termed "X-Factors" and PFF thinks Darren Waller hold that title for the New York Giants this fall. Here's why:
The Giants sent a third-round pick to Las Vegas for Waller. He brings needed athleticism and versatility to their tight end room. Giants tight ends ranked in the bottom 10 in receiving grade, receptions and receiving yards during the 2022 regular season. Waller should be an excellent scheme fit working across the field in Daboll’s system. Health is the key for Waller, as he’s missed 14 games over the past two years after terrific seasons in 2019 and 2020. A healthy Waller would be huge for an offense searching for big plays through the air.
I totally agree. The only and I mean only, reason that Waller was traded for a third-round pick was injury history, something that limited him over the duration of his last two NFL seasons.
But when fully healthy, you can argue that Waller is up there with Travis Kelce, George Kittle, and Mark Andrews when it comes to the receiving game as a tight end, evident by his 107-1196-9 Pro Bowl year in 2020.
And even if the 30-year-old can't mimic that production this year, he can easily help the dynamic of the Giants' offense. New York lacked a true threat over the middle of the field, even if rookie Daniel Bellinger proved to outperform his draft positioning.
At 6-6 and nearly 260 pounds with the speed to stretch the seam and stress defenses vertically where it hurts the most, Waller presents a skillset and matchup advantage that simply wasn't there prior to his signing.
Not to mention, Waller allows the Giants to play two tight end sets, further creating headaches for defensive coordinators around the league. It's obvious that New York wants to be a run-first offense, and deploying those two tight end sets would play into that notion until it's actually a play-action fake and Waller is running past the linebacker that's in there to play the run.
Now you know why a healthy Waller will certainly be an "X-factor" come kickoff.
