After previously announcing that he was switching agents, Las Vegas Raiders Darren Waller showed up to the public again on Tuesday. He told the media that he would be on the field for the season opener against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday with or without a contract extension.
“Yeah,” Waller said. “It’s great to be here, it’s a blessing to have a game coming up, I don’t think there’s nothing else I can be more excited about than this.”
The tight end has two years remaining on the contract he signed in the 2019 season. Waller was owed just under $14 million during those years, with no guarantee of payment.
Waller returned from an undisclosed injury last week. There have been rumors about the player wanting a new contract.
“It’s tough, man, because I did want to be out there, but I was a little banged up,” he said. “It’s a lot to process mentally, but it be like that sometimes, it’s a whole bunch of ebbs and flows in this league.”
Waller ranks second among all NFL tight ends with 252 catches for 3,006 yards. He averages 14 touchdown receptions over the last three seasons. Last season, he recorded 55 receptions and 665 receiving yards for 11 games.
Switching agent
Waller left Klutch Sports last week after less than a year and signed with Drew Rosenhaus and Robert Bailey. He said he felt better after changing his agent.
“It puts things into perspective cause you really focus on what matters the most in life — and to me, it’s not necessarily money,” Waller said. “To have that contract would be an amazing blessing, but I don’t need that contract to be at peace or to enjoy my life. Events like (recovery), going through things like that, really puts things into perspective as far as what really matters.
“Things may not go exactly how you want them to go, but that shouldn’t affect commitment that you have to show up somewhere and give your best. So I try to honor that and not just talk about it but actually be a part of my character.”
The 29-year-old tight end asserted that the Raiders would offer him a new deal. He said the team had been open about their intentions to keep him for the long term. He said his former agent had had talks with the team and his current representative was continuing the negotiation process.
Waller said he was okay with the possibility of the talks dragging on because of how the team had been open to him and how he respected general manager Dave Ziegler, who had been working on a new deal for him.
“I believe in this organization, I believe in my representation, so yeah, I feel like it will get done,” he said.
Waller is part of quarterback Derek Carr’s dynamic passing attack plan, along with Hunter Renfrow and All-Pro receiver Davante Adams.
“I can attack the season now. We’re at Week 1, so nothing that happened before matters.”
Waller and the Raiders will play against the Chargers on Sunday at SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, CA.