Darren Waller, tight end with the Las Vegas Raiders, was said to be in negotiations for a massive contract last month. According to CBS Sports NFL Insider Josina Anderson, Waller agreed to a new three-year, $51 million contract on Saturday, making the extension official.
Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels was quoted on the club’s website as saying, “Darren Waller is an exemplary teammate in every way, and we’re excited to see him continue to grow as a leader on this team. He brings a tremendous commitment and work ethic to the building every day and we couldn’t be more thrilled that he will be a part of the Raiders Family for years to come.”
Waller’s new average annual value (AAV) of $17 million makes him the highest-paid tight end in the league, surpassing George Kittle of the San Francisco 49ers, whose contract has an AAV of $15 million. Drew Rosenhaus, Waller’s agent, said that finalizing this agreement was difficult.
Darren Waller to stay in Las Vegas until 2025
As reported by NFL Media, Waller’s new contract is worth $25 million over the next two years and includes a $19.25 million signing bonus. Bonuses for being on the active roster amount to $2.55 million of that total. The remaining $12 million in 2024, $13 million in 2025, and $15 million in 2026 are apparently non-guaranteed bonuses. In addition, he receives a yearly Pro Bowl bonus of $250,000.
The Ravens initially picked the now-29-year-old from Georgia Tech in the sixth round of the 2015 NFL Draft. Waller’s work existence got off to a difficult start because of his personal struggles with drug misuse. However, Waller beat his dependency and is now regarded as one of the league’s top tight ends.
