New York Giants Training Camp Position Group Preview: Tight Ends

How will the New York Giants use both Darren Waller and Daniel Bellinger?

Author:
Brandon Olsen
Publish date:
Jul 22, 2023 10:00 AM EDT

In this story:

We're taking an in-depth look at the New York Giants position groups before the start of training camp--the battles, the players, the questions, and more.

Here is our look at the tight ends.

Rostered Players

Darren Waller, Daniel Bellinger, Lawrence Cager, Chris Myarick, Tommy Sweeney, Ryan Jones

Position Overview

There wasn’t much to love about the New York Giants offense in 2022. It was mostly focused on ball security, time of possession, and wearing down opposing defenses while occasionally creating an explosive play.

One bright spot, however, was that the tight end room, despite not having any top-tier talent, found production consistently throughout the year.

Rookie Daniel Bellinger was considered a relatively pro-ready prospect going into the season, but he blew away expectations even then. Lawrence Cager was a wide receiver still making the full-time transition to tight end, and both Chris Myarick and Tanner Hudson were career backups and special teamers to that point.

Giants head coach Brian Daboll, offensive coordinator Mike Kafka, and tight ends coach Andy Bischoff found ways to make all of them play at a level they had never played at before.

Take all those happy surprises, add 2020 Pro Bowler Darren Waller to the mix, and you’ve got all the makings for this group to become one of the best in the league. Waller has dealt with injuries for parts of the last two seasons but still had 83 receptions for 1,053 yards and five touchdowns in those 20 games. Waller stacked up 107 catches in his last full season for 1,196 yards and nine touchdowns.

This tight end room is better than most but has a few weaknesses. The 2023 season should be a very productive year if the group stays healthy.

Biggest Question Mark

How will the New York Giants use both Darren Waller and Daniel Bellinger?

The 12-personnel package (one running back, two tight ends) was a key part of the Giants offense during the 2022 season for multiple reasons, including a commitment to running the football, a lack of wide receiver talent, and injuries piling up all over the roster. This season, however, the Giants will have a brand new look for 12-personnel with the elite Waller and up-and-coming Bellinger.

Waller has historically been used as a big slot or flexed out wide instead of a traditional in-line tight end. Still, Daboll and Mike Kafka could bring Waller and Bellinger onto the field in formations that could vary greatly from play to play.

There are incorrect ways to use both Waller and Bellinger and incorrect ways to use them together too. But being able to find the right way to use them together could give the Giants the most lethal 12-personnel set since the early 2010s New England Patriots.

With Waller’s versatility and Bellinger’s reliability, the duo could wreak havoc on NFL defenses in 2023 and beyond.

OTHER POSITION GROUPS

Running Backs

Key Training Camp Battle to Watch

As anticlimactic as it might sound, the key battle for the Giants' tight end group is the last spot on the roster between Chris Myarick and Tommy Sweeney. Waller is the unquestioned starter, with Bellinger as the second option. Cager is the most similar tight end to Waller, which should solidify his spot on the roster to replace Waller whenever he needs a rest or if he gets injured.

That leaves the team needing another Y-tight end that could be Bellinger’s primary backup and be the one on the field when the Giants run three tight end sets. Myarick is the incumbent, with Sweeney being the option that’s new to the Giants but has experience with Daboll in Buffalo from 2019-2021.

While the fourth tight end spot doesn’t sound vital to the success of an organization, the Giants in 2022 featured two and three tight end sets and will likely carry at least some of that over into 2023. Having depth that could contribute as a consistent part of the game plan cannot be overlooked.

Position Unit Grade: B+

Base this grade on the strength of the position group. For example, do they have enough quality depth on the unit to hold a legitimate competition? Are injury concerns still creating question marks?

The Giants have few question marks in their tight end room for 2023. There’s an elite pass-catcher in Waller, a safety blanket that’s a strong blocker in Bellinger, and they each have a backup that the team should feel comfortable with in Cager and then Myarick or Sweeney - whoever wins that battle.

The roster has starters and quality depth. Granted, the position isn’t perfect, but there’s been a strong start building this group. If an injury happened to Waller or Bellinger, there’s going to be a significant drop-off in production from the group, but there’s still enough talent to find success.

Early 53-man Roster Projections

Starter: Darren Waller
Backups: Daniel Bellinger, Lawrence Cager, Chris Myarick
Practice Squad: Ryan Jones
Cut: Tommy Sweeney

Waller is the clear and unquestioned starter, with Bellinger as the obvious No. 2 option that will work as the in-line Y tight end. Their spots are solidified, as with the amount of 12 personnel this team will play, I was tempted to list them both in the starter category.

Cager isn’t an elite tight end, and I’m not sure he’s ever going to become one, but as far as being a skillset match to Waller, there are few as close to a match as Cager is. He’s made strides in his development as a tight end over the past two seasons and could be a weapon in the passing game to spell Waller.

Myarick and Sweeney will compete for that final active roster spot. Ultimately, Myarick has experience with the system and the roster, having chemistry with Daniel Jones as a pass-catcher and the offensive line as a blocker. Sweeney was with Daboll in Buffalo from 2019-2021 and signed with the Giants this past offseason.

Both are competing for the final tight end spot on the roster, which I think will ultimately be won by Myarick because of his experience last season. Ryan Jones is a tight end/fullback/H-back rookie who could play a similar role as Myarick (officially listed as a fullback but played almost exclusively as a tight end) that should wind up on the practice squad this season.

Jones is a solid athlete who can make a man miss with the ball. Daboll kept undrafted rookie fullback Reggie Gilliam on the Bills roster in 2020 and could do the same with Jones if he impresses enough during the preseason and training camp.