Darren Waller: How a Sixth-Round Tight End Became a Dynasty Gem

Johnny Kinsley

A problem with life that extends into the NFL universe is drug addiction. The country’s most athletic gridiron freaks are no strangers to drug use, and as any star who’s made it in the big leagues will tell you, fame and money can’t prevent you from taking footsteps around depression, anxiety, and overall suffering. It’s hard for players the break the habit, understandable for anyone who’s been through this phase, and some never break it at all.

One such player who has overcome the struggles of drug addiction is Raiders tight end Darren Waller. A sixth-round pick with the Ravens in 2015, Waller’s career was put on hold through various injuries and suspensions due to drug abuse. In addition, Baltimore had an insane depth chart of tight ends, making any chance Waller had of breaking out in the Charm City impossible.

While he was on the Ravens’ practice squad in 2018, Waller was signed by the Raiders, and became a Hard Knocks star the following season. That time detailed the steps he took to overcome his drug abuse, and eventually led to him being a starter for Oakland on the season.

And in his first full season as a starter, Waller has fought against the odds in spectacular fashion. Through 12 games, he’s only second to Travis Kelce (923) in yards among all tight ends with 807 of them. He’s doing this on 66 catches and three touchdown grabs, and has already put up three instances of 100-yard performances on the year.

This kind of breakout performance is unexpected for a former sixth-round pick, let alone a sixth-round tight end, but that’s part of what Waller’s been doing in the last few years; overcoming the odds and making a name for himself with the Raiders. The team saw the positive in him immediately, as they extended him for three years back in October.

So, what’s got the Raiders so pleased about Waller as the team prepares to move to Las Vegas in the off-season? Quite a bit, as it turns out! At 27 years old, Waller is in the middle of his prime, and is ripe for a new dynasty team looking for a fresh tight end to acquire.

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From the first game of the season, you could tell that Waller was going to be a keeper in Oakland/Vegas. He and quarterback Derek Carr formed a chemistry near instantaneously, as he caught seven passes for 70 yards in the Raiders’ opening week victory over the Broncos.

As shown here, Waller has the consistent ability to stretch the field vertically, whether inside the slot or positioned as a wideout. He’s able to get by the quick jam here, and his strong arms haul in a perfectly placed pass in tight coverage. This type of reliability at the catch point has made Waller the Raiders’ leading receiver in 2019, impressive for a tight end.

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Last week against the Chiefs, Waller put up his third 100-yard performance of the season (exactly at 100, as well). At 6’6 and 255 lb, Waller is obviously a huge target. This is true for tight ends in general, but Waller’s additional athleticism at the catch point gives him an edge over the garden variety big bulk receiving TE, making him a top tier player at the position.

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Waller is no slouch in the route running department either. At Georgia Tech he played as a wide receiver, so it makes sense as to why he looks so fluid playing the receiving end.

Against the Vikings above, Waller runs a nice little stutter step to free himself up and find a spot against zone coverage. He’s then able to snatch a high but accurate rapid-fire pass from Carr.

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Waller’s past as a wide receiver comes handy on this play against the Packers, where he uses a deadly spin move (granted, in garbage time…) using flashy quickness to free himself up for the touchdown. As a wideout on the left side, he’s caught seven passes for 110 yards and a touchdown for 15.7 yards per reception.

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But it’s in the slot (more specifically, the left slot) where Waller’s done his most damage in 2019. So far he’s caught 20 passes for 210 yards and a touchdown in the left slot, and plays like this emphasize why that is. Fast tight ends are never easy to bring down, and Waller is no exception here. His pad level and bulk allow him to get by turnstile Bengals defenders with ease, and he has impressive speed for a tight end as well.

In addition to being a great story, Darren Waller is a dynasty gem. Not many people can say they expected a season of this magnitude, and at this rate, he should be a lock for a Pro Bowl trip. Meanwhile, I suggest investing in him for dynasty while you still can.

johnny kinsley