Darren Waller’s extension crucial to Oakland Raiders future success

The Oakland Raiders recently announced they signed tight end Darren Waller to a multi-year extension bolstering their receiving core for another few years.

Since coming to the Oakland Raiders a year ago, tight end Darren Waller has developed into one of the better players in the NFL at his position. The Landover, Maryland, native has proven to be an asset to the Raiders this season by being the No.1 target in the Raiders passing game with 42 targets and 37 receptions.

Drafted in the 6th round by the Baltimore Ravens in 2015, Waller has proven himself on this team and gained a starting spot by impressing head coach, Jon Gruden in the passing as well as the running game. Being signed to the practice squad in late 2018, he sought the starting role in 2019.

Not only is he a solid target in the passing game, but quarterback Derek Carr has a 120 passer rating when targeting Waller this season. He’s also been the most reliable receiver, only dropping one pass while having 204 yards after the catch.

Waller has surprised many Raiders fans with his catching and run-blocking abilities. You can only appreciate his value to this team by watching the game film of the Vikings and the Bears games. The tight-end took on Khalil Mack in the running game eight times and was able to push him upfield every time, setting an outside edge for rookie running back, Josh Jacobs.

More importantly, he’s the teams No.1 target on third-down with 17 first down receptions. According to Pro Football Focus, Waller is also the No. 1 route runner on the team with an 82.6 overall and an 81.2 receiving rating beating out every other receiver on the team.

Signing Waller was a priority for me this season due to his receiving ability and route running tree. Ever since Tony Gonzalez and Shannon Sharpe changed the way the league saw tight ends, receiving threats rather than run-blockers, coaches at the high school and college level are using a player’s natural abilities in the passing and run games as tight ends. At 6’6″, 255, he’s a matchup nightmare.

He’s too fast for a linebacker, but he’s too big for a defensive back and being that he’s on average 5 inches taller than any defensive back in the league, Carr just has to throw it up high to him.

For all of the success he has in the passing game he still doesn’t have a touchdown on the season, which can make fantasy owners a little bitter. Putting that aside, his best game was against Minnesota, where he amassed 14 targets for 13 receptions with 134 yards, with 63 coming after the catch, all the while catching seven first downs. Waller is crucial to the Raiders’ success due to the play-action Jon Gruden likes to run as well.

Waller is a perfect candidate to run over the middle in front of hard-hitting linebackers and can make any catch thrown his way. The Oakland Raiders made a great decision in keeping this guy around for another few years.