Raiders Rumors: Darren Waller Contract Talks Progressing, Goal Is Deal Done by Sunday
September 8, 2022
Darren Waller's hopes of getting a new contract from the Las Vegas Raiders could become a reality soon.
Per Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio, talks between Waller and the Raiders are "progressing" with the goal of getting a deal done before their first game of the year against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday.
Waller signed with agents Drew Rosenhaus and Robert Bailey last month after previously being represented by Klutch Sports.
"I plan on going to work on this right away," Rosenhaus told ESPN's Paul Gutierrez via text when asked about negotiating with the Raiders on Waller's behalf.
There were positive signs that a deal could be worked out when Vegas opened training camp. Waller showed up on time for the start of camp rather than holding out in an attempt to force a new deal.
Waller has two years and approximately $13 million remaining on his current deal, which was signed in October 2019.
Per The Athletic's Vic Tafur, Waller's remaining salary ranks 17th among all tight ends over the next two seasons.
George Kittle ($15 million), Travis Kelce ($14.3 million), Dallas Goedert ($14.25 million) and Mark Andrews ($14 million) will all earn more in 2022 than Waller will over the next two seasons combined, according to Tafur.
Since the start of 2019, Waller and Kelce are the only tight ends in the NFL with more than 1,000 yards in multiple seasons. The 29-year-old led the Raiders in receiving yards in 2019 and 2020.
With Josh McDaniels entering his first season as head coach, the Raiders have been spending aggressively to lock in their core players. They signed Davante Adams to the richest contract in NFL history for a wide receiver (five years, $141.25 million) after acquiring him from the Green Bay Packers.
Hunter Renfrow and Derek Carr signed extensions with Las Vegas, too.
Waller has emerged as one of the best tight ends in the NFL over the past three seasons. He was originally a sixth-round draft pick by the Baltimore Ravens in 2015 and spent the first three years of his career primarily as a backup.
The Raiders signed Waller off the Ravens' practice squad midway through the 2018 season. He has 355 targets, 252 receptions, 3,006 receiving yards and 14 receiving touchdowns since becoming a full-time starter in 2019.