5 years agoThe Oakland Raiders coaching staff have been impressed with 26-year-old tight end Darren Waller so far this offseason. Signed off the Ravens practice squad late last season, Waller appeared in the Raiders final four games collecting six catches for 75 yards, but the departure of Jared Cook has opened the door for him to take over. As a former receiver from Georgia Tech, head coach Jon Gruden called Waller "one of our most impressive players" but noted that "he’s got some big shoes to fill" in Cook's absence. Oakland carries some depth at the position with Luke Willson, Erik Swoope, Derek Carrier, and fourth-round rookie Foster Moreau, but it's Waller who will open up training camp as the leader of the pack. With Antonio Brown and Tyrell Williams drawing the coverage from opposing defenses, Waller could prove to be a formidable pass-catching option much like Cook was last season. He's a late-round dart throw in fantasy leagues, but his play should be monitored throughout training camp and the preseason to see how well he'll fit in this renovated Raiders offense.--Riley Mrack - RotoBaller
Source: Scott Blair - NBC Sports