Report: Miami Dolphins talked to Las Vegas Raiders about Darren Waller trade last year

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The Miami Dolphins were among the teams interested in tight end Darren Waller last offseason, according to his agent Drew Rosenhaus on the Pat McAfee Show.

Waller, who was traded by the Las Vegas Raiders to the New York Giants this offseason in exchange for a third-round draft pick (No. 100 overall) in the 2023 NFL Draft, had been on the trade block for quite some time, according to Rosenhaus.

“The Raiders were in negotiations last year to trade Darren,” Rosenhaus said. “Darren was very nearly traded last offseason.”

McAfee then asked what teams had been interested in Waller.

“I think the [Green Bay] Packers and the Dolphins were very interested in Darren at that time,” Rosenhaus said. “But the trade didn’t happen. The Raiders pulled back, I think, right before those deals could get done.”

The Dolphins already have a lethal passing game with Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle at receiver, so adding a player like Waller to the mix would have made the team even tougher to stop last season.

Miami’s No. 1 tight end last season was Mike Gesicki, who was playing out the season on the franchise tag. Gesicki is no longer with the team, as he signed with the New England Patriots in free agency this offseason.

While the Dolphins missed out on Waller, they still have a great group on offense going forward.

A sixth-round pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, Waller really turned his career around the past few seasons in Las Vegas. He made the Pro Bowl in the 2020 season and also signed a contract extension that runs through the 2026 season.

Last season, injuries limited Waller to just nine games, but he played well when he was on the field. In nine games, Waller racked up 28 catches for 388 yards and three scores.

The Giants are hoping that Waller can return to his 2020 form when he caught 107 passes for 1,196 yards and nine touchdowns. He should be one of the best weapons that Daniel Jones has had in his time as New York’s quarterback.

Dolphins fans may be disappointed to hear that the team missed out on Waller, but Miami is still headed in the right direction. Having a talent like Hill opens up the offense in a big way, and as long as Tua Tagovailoa stays healthy, the Dolphins should contend for a playoff spot again in the 2023 season.

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Peter is a graduate of Quinnipiac University where he covered the MAAC and college basketball for three years. He has worked for NBC Sports, the Connecticut Sun and the Meriden Record-Journal covering basketball and other major sports. Follow him on Twitter @peterdewey2.