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Who’s next for the Raiders following Derek Carr’s extension?

By Mario O. Tovar

Oct 25, 2020; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) celebrates a touchdown with tight end Darren Waller (83) against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 25, 2020; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) celebrates a touchdown with tight end Darren Waller (83) against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 12, 2022; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Las Vegas Raiders tight end Darren Waller signs autographs during the Super Bowl LVI Experience at Los Angeles Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

Will Darren Waller get a new deal with the Raiders?

Waller exploded onto the scene back in 2019, quickly becoming one of the NFL’s top-tier tight ends alongside others such as Travis Kelce and George Kittle. Despite spending time stashed on the Baltimore Ravens practice squad, Waller rose to prominence and, in fact, was extended with a deal worth $29.8 million back in 2019.

However, that deal has no guaranteed money going into this season. Does his on-field performance merit an extension right now? Depends. If we’re looking at what happened in 2021, injuries caught up with Waller, and he missed significant time after Thanksgiving. Be that as it may, he returned on time for the playoffs against the Cincinnati Bengals, where he caught seven passes for 76 yards.

Injuries aside, it does appear Waller will be back to form in 2022, and we know how important the tight end position is in McDaniels’ offense. When you consider how many weapons the Raiders’ offense will feature this offseason, Waller is bound to explode and could have himself another 1,000-plus receiving yard season. If healthy, Waller is one of the league’s top talents, the team’s brain trust would be fools to not extend him or worse, risk a holdout.

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