The Raiders saw enough from tight end Darren Waller last year that they didn’t even extend an offer to Jared Cook this past offseason. Now after just five regular season games, the Raiders have seen enough of Waller to extend his contract.
The deal, according to NFL Network, will tie Waller to the Raiders through the 2023 season.
Tom Pelissero on Twitter
The #Raiders are signing their breakout TE Darren Waller to a contract extension through 2023, source said. Instead of being a restricted free agent in March (and potentially staring at a franchise tag after that), Waller gets his payday now. 💰
With 37 receptions this year, Waller already has more than double the receptions of the next closest pass-catcher on the Raiders. He is also second among NFL tight ends in receptions and sixth in yardage (359), despite the team’s early bye week.
Waller, as he detailed in this year’s Hard Knocks series, has an amazing story of substance abuse recovery and so far has achieved over two years of sobriety. The former sixth-round pick of the Baltimore Ravens told HBO this year that his previous addictions included opiates, Oxy, pills, Xanax, and even cocaine.
Darren’s path to Oakland included a suspension for violating the league’s substance abuse policy before being picked off the Ravens practice squad after being noticed during a Raiders/Ravens pregame in 2018. Jon Gruden credited offensive coordinator Greg Olson for bringing the 6’6, 250-pound tight end to his attention.
Waller just turned 27 in September and if reports are accurate, he will be under contract with the Raiders until he’s 31.
twitter: @raidersbeat