There have been rumors that the Las Vegas Raiders might trade tight end Darren Waller.
However, quarterback Derek Carr doesn’t see it happening.
Waller himself confirmed that he’s staying in Las Vegas, as shared by ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
TE Darren Waller told @ZachGelb that, despite any pre-draft rumors connecting him to the Packers, the Raiders told him that he’s staying in Las Vegas. “They said that’s not a thing that’s happening and there’s no trade that’s going to happen,” Waller said today.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 28, 2022
Regarding pre-draft rumors with the Green Bay Packers, Waller said, “That’s not a thing that’s happening, and there’s no trade that’s going to happen.”
Raiders fans can breathe easily after this confirmation.
After all, he’s been a solid contributor to the team since he was discovered from the Baltimore Ravens’ practice squad.
Last season, he played 11 games, finishing with 665 yards and two touchdowns.
Before 2021, he had consecutive 1,000-yard seasons and 12 total touchdowns.
New Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels will find a way to maximize his usage on offense, especially when they call for double tight-end sets.
With Davante Adams and Hunter Renfrow as their top wideouts, Waller might even enjoy favorable coverages against linebackers.
Raiders Should Extend Waller’s Contract
While Waller still has two years left in his deal, the Raiders should work on a contract extension sooner than later.
Ideally, both parties should have agreed to a new deal before the 2023 season to prevent him from going to free agency.
Waller is set to earn base salaries of $6.25 million for the 2022 and 2023 seasons.
If he has another 1,000-yard season, he could command a contract comparable to the annual average values of George Kittle and Travis Kelce.
He won’t come cheap, mainly because his next contract could be his last big-money deal.
Waller will be 31 years old by the time his existing agreement ends, and he would like to have a massive contract before retiring.
Therefore, the next two seasons will determine if the Raiders should extend him.
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