The Miami Dolphins needed to find a viable tight end replacement after trading Jonnu Smith to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Their top two players at the position are not known as receiving threats against opposing defenses, with Julian Hill recording 148 yards in his first two seasons and Pharaoh Brown with 751 yards in his nine-year career. The Dolphins have expressed interest in Michael Mayer, but the Las Vegas Raiders have no plans to trade him.
Miami Dolphins could be in play for a former Pro Bowl TE
Darren Waller spent the 2023 season with the New York Giants, hauling in 52 receptions for 552 yards and one touchdown in 12 games. He missed five games with a hamstring injury and a medical emergency due to a viral infection and announced his retirement from the NFL at the age of 31 last offseason with three years left on his three-year, $51 million contract. If Waller were to unretire, the Giants would retain his rights, and to acquire him, a team would have to trade for him.
Miami Dolphins land Pro Bowl weapon who retired in 2024
According to Adam Schefter, the Pro Bowl tight end has come out of retirement and will join Miami. The Miami Dolphins have traded a 2026 sixth-round pick to the New York Giants for Darren Waller and a conditional 2027 seventh-round pick. As Schefter points out, Waller signed a one-year contract worth up to $5 million.
Trade: Dolphins are trading a conditional 2026 sixth to the New York Giants for a 2027 seventh-round pick and Darren Waller.
Waller is coming out of retirement after agreeing to a one-year deal with the Dolphins worth up to $5 million, per Drew Rosenhaus and Robert Bailey.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 1, 2025
Fans react to the news
He’s not in shape.
— FADDE (@fadde) July 1, 2025
Lmao, DARREN WALLER COMEBACK?!?
— Panther (@PantherQB19) July 1, 2025
Rap career must’ve been cooked
— Its *Vaughn Not Von (@uncle_vaughn) July 1, 2025
Dolphins actually won this
— 𝔗𝔥𝔢 𝔇𝔢𝔱𝔯𝔬𝔦𝔱 𝔗𝔦𝔪𝔢𝔰 📰 (@the_det_times) July 1, 2025
I like it
— FL PanthersMuse (@flpanthersmuse) July 1, 2025
Just don’t ask him to block or else he’ll retire!
— NFL Draft Content – Scouting (@draftlives_here) July 1, 2025
Dolphins had Walmart workers at the tight end position. Good move even if he’s not what he once was
— Erick (@EKlambara) July 1, 2025
LETS GOOO happy for darren!
— Taylor Caniff (@taylorcaniff) July 1, 2025
