ALAMEDA-Raiders tight end Darren Waller is only five games into the breakout season, but his already clear HES in the top tier of the NFL. Hes a dynamic playmaker with a prototype body, speed receivers, soft hands and the toughness needed to block effectively.

Wallers has just entered his Premiership at 27, with several years of experience ahead. His three-year contract extension Wednesday

The raiders need to shout the news from the mountain tops and put it on Las Vegas billboards posthaste. Hes a fantastic story of redemption that inspires those around him and is incredibly easy to root for.

Waller was a player suspended twice for violating the NFLs substance abuse policy while battling addiction to alcohol, prescription drugs and everything else he could find.

Hes now more than two years clean, living his best life, realizing the huge potential almost wasted. Waller has no problem discussing his past and path to sobriety, hoping to inspire others to overcome substance abuse problems.

Its one of the great stories in football, one of the great things Ive seen in my career, Grudinin said last week. Im really proud of him, so excited for him to get it together and be an honest, upfront guy and talk about it and giving other young people the same enthusiasm to beat him, the same confidence that they can beat any addiction they may have.

This is the guy you want around long term. It’s a steady locker room presence and a reliable target who will only be 31 years old when he plays out this contract extension. Waller may be one of the League’s best tight ends for years, making this deal seem like a deal in the long run.

Grudinin easily allocated money for Waller, already considering him one of the best leagues.

Hes really a rookie playing tight end, Gruden said. He was a wide receiver in College. He sat in football for a year. He leads the League in getting right now at that position. If you watched his block, I don’t know if Theres a better tight end in football, really.

The Wallers expansion also suggests the raiders are set on a tight end for a long time. Rookie fourth-round draft pick foster Moreau has surprised many in a great start to his professional career, showing toughness in running games and the ability to make clutch catches.

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Waller is the passing game’s best asset right now, with the ability to play in the tight end line and every receiver spot. Having it around the long term adds vital stability to the offense, and the timing could be better.

The raiders eliminated contract uncertainty down the line with a respectable amount Wednesday. Waller’s expansion thus avoids the drama of encroaching free Agency and increasing market value when his stats shoot sky high in 2019 and beyond as he further develops as a player.