Raiders Darren Waller: The “holdout” that was, and how it all came to an end

The “holdout” debacle in Las Vegas has come to an end as Raiders TE Darren Waller reaches a three-year extension with the Raiders. Here’s how it all came to be.

Cha-ching; that sweet sound of cashing in on a payday.

It’s hard to top the feeling of knowing you and your family are set for life. This offseason, both Maxx Crosby and Hunter Renfrow got to experience that sensation as the pair signed their first multi-year non-rookie contracts. After leading the NFL in pressures through the ’21 season via Pro Football Focus, Crosby was awarded a four-year contract worth up to $94 million. Renfrow agreed to a two-year, $32 million deal.

Raiders’ veteran quarterback Derek Carr also received a hefty extension this offseason, while newcomers Davante Adams and Chandler Jones cashed in on sizable contracts. Between Crosby, Renfrow, Carr, Adams, and Jones, the Las Vegas Raiders dished out $438.8 million in total contract revenue.

On Saturday, the Silver and Black announced the latest of their extensions, tacking on an additional $51 million to the team’s total payout. Before we get there though, let’s start from the beginning.

It all starts with wideout Davante Adams rejecting more money from the Packers to join his best friend Derek Carr in Las Vegas.

In the middle of March, the NFL world was blindsided by an absolute blockbuster deal that sent the top wideout in football to the Las Vegas Raiders. Initially, it was believed the deal was made due to Green Bay being unable to afford Adams, but that turned out to be false – in fact, the team offered Adams more money than his current contract with the Raiders is worth. Adams turned it down.

"“You guys have heard Green Bay offered this, which was higher than what I was offered.. and all of that, and yeah, I’ll say it. It was true, ok, it was true.”"

“It has a lot to do with where I want to raise my kids”, Adams said when addressing the various factors in his decision. “My grandparents have never seen me play in eight years.” Best friend Derek Carr aside, being geographically closer to family played a huge part.

There’s no bigger way to express commitment in your QB than going out and grabbing his favorite weapon – especially when giving up a first and second-round draft pick is required. And sure enough, a handful of weeks later, Carr signed a three-year, $121.5 million extension.

This team-friendly deal currently has Carr sitting as the seventh-highest annually paid quarterback, with young studs such as Justin Herbert and Joe Burrow yet to sign their impending non-rookie contracts.

There’s a reason no.4 was happy to take such a team-friendly deal; Carr, along with Davante Adams and All-Pro edge rusher Maxx Crosby, admitted to seeing the bigger picture. The trio took less money to ensure others such as Hunter Renfrow and Darren Waller have food left on the plate.

This tightly knit brotherhood is something that shows the true colors of the men in Vegas. After all, not only was this Maxx Crosby’s first big payday, but Davante Adams hadn’t even clocked a day as a Raider before signing his contract with the team.