Raiders sign up-and-coming TE Darren Waller to a contract extension

Through the first five games of the season, the Oakland Raiders have gotten off to a promising start.

Among that strong play has been tight end, Darren Waller, putting up a career-best pace in his first campaign with the Raiders. According to Paul Gutierrez of ESPN, it has earned Waller a new multi-year deal with the Raiders.

The Oakland Raiders have signed tight end Darren Waller to a multi-year contract extension, the team announced Wednesday night.

Waller has quickly become a massive part of the offensive game plan for the Raiders as he has a team-leading 37 passes for 359 receiving yards through the first five games. It was highlighted by a career-best outing with 13 catches for 134 receiving yards against the Minnesota Vikings.

He had entered the year with just 18 catches for 178 receiving yards and two touchdowns in 22 career games. It hasn’t been the smoothest path for Waller towards his time with the Raiders as he has failed a pair of drug tests with the Baltimore Ravens that resulted in suspensions.

It has led to some substantial personal changes with him being public with his fight for sobriety. His hard work on and off the field has guided him to this promising situation with Oakland, where he has a chance to be a major piece of the puzzle for the franchise. With him in the fold for the next few seasons, it gives the Raiders another piece to build around this year and beyond it.