“Darren Waller is an exemplary teammate in every way and we are excited to see him continue to develop as a leader on this team,” Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels said via their official website. “Darren brings a tremendous commitment and work ethic to the building every day, and we couldn’t be more excited to have him be a part of the Raiders family for years to come.” Waller’s new AAV of $17 million actually makes him the highest-paid tight end in the league, passing San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle, whose deal carries an AAV of $15 million. According to Waller’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, that extension was apparently difficult. “This was one of the most challenging negotiations I’ve come across,” Rosenhaus said, via ESPN. According to NFL Media, Waller’s new deal has a base value of $25 million over the next two years, and he received $19.25 million fully guaranteed at signing. It also includes $2.55 million in active roster bonuses. The remainder of the deal is reportedly non-guaranteed, offering $12 million in 2024, $13 million in 2025 and $15 million in 2026. It also has a Pro Bowl incentive of $250,000 each year. While this is a huge chunk of change, Waller is definitely worth this contract. The Pro Bowl tight end recorded over 1,000 receiving yards in 2019 and 2020, and while he played in just 11 games last year due to injury, he still caught 55 passes for 665 yards and two touchdowns. Waller finished the 2021 campaign No. 11 in receiving yards among all tight ends and fifth in receiving yards per game with 60.5. In last season’s opener against his former team the Baltimore Ravens, Waller went 10 of 19 for 105 yards and a touchdown in an overtime win. That performance led former Raiders coach Jon Gruden to call Waller the best player he ever coached. The 29-year-old was originally selected by the Ravens in the sixth round of the 2015 NFL Draft out of Georgia Tech. His professional career got off to a rocky start due to problems in his personal life, as Waller struggled with substance abuse issues. But Waller overcame his addiction and became one of the best tight ends in the NFL. The Raiders have a new coach in McDaniels, but Waller is still the centerpiece of this offense, and Las Vegas has shown its commitment to him with this lucrative extension.
