Daniel Jones seems to have more options at his disposal on offense this upcoming season, and tight end will be a role of interest to many, as he now has Darren Waller on his side and what appears to be a significantly stronger teammate in Daniel Bellinger.
In mid-March the Giants traded for the former Raider, putting him as the team’s No. 1 tight end.
However, Bellinger’s incomplete 2022 season and young age are two reasons why he could work well alongside Waller.
Another reason is his sudden biceps bulkiness.
The 23-year-old completed his first NFL season in 2022 with 268 yards for two touchdowns in just 12 games, while missing four in midseason due to eye surgery from an inadvertent poke in the left eye through his face mask on the tackle by Jaguars’ cornerback Tre Herndon.
The former San Diego State player and fourth-round draft pick has noticeably not skipped an arm day this offseason, which is especially detailed in a photo released by the Giants of his flexed arms while making a catch during practice.
Offensive coordinator Mike Kafka recalled the photo of Bellinger on Thursday before the Giants canceled the scheduled OTA session due to poor air quality.
“Yeah, I know our strength staff, they do a good job of talking with the players and developing a plan. I’m not sure if Bellinger, you know, the bicep was a major part of that, but surely he’s done a nice job,” Kafka said with a laugh. “He came in great shape. He’s done a great job. He’s taken a nice step from Year 1 to Year 2 and he’s continuing to grow, and that’s what we’re looking for.”
Maybe it’s out of competition, motivation, or with Waller looking more like a receiver than pass-catcher in some cases, perhaps it’s because Bellinger will be expected to block more.
Kafka mentioned the strength and conditioning comes in collaboration with the coaches’ needs on the field.
“It’s collaborative. It’s definitely collaborative,” Kafka said. “You talk with the player. You talk with the coaches. You talk to the training staff and the medical staff, and everyone kind of gets on the same page. That’s how we’ve worked in the past. So again, Bellinger is one example of that.”
Waller, 30, hit a peak in 2019 and 2020, with a career-high 1,195 yards for nine touchdowns in 2020.
Since then, he has struggled to meet that output again because of injuries, from hamstring strains to knee problems, that benched him for 14 games the past two years.
Last season he finished with 388 yards for three touchdowns in nine games. With no present injury baggage, Waller is likely looking to reignite his career.
“He’s a really talented player. He’s a great person,” Kafka said. “He’s a really good teammate. That’s one thing I’ve learned about him and he cares about us. He cares about his guys and he’s competitive, which we really like.
“We value that here and he’s doing everything we’re asking him. He’s working hard and putting in the time and effort to learn the offense and getting in sync with [Jones] He’s done a great job.”
