The Raiders have one week of mini-camps left to go until they are off for the rest of the summer. The team will return in late July to begin preparations for the 2019 season.
For Oakland, several players need to have good camps to win starting jobs or to make the roster. But no player has more to gain than tight end Darren Waller.
In a recent piece by Brent Sobleski of Bleacher Report, Waller was named the Raiders’ player with the most on the line heading into training camp. Here is what Sobleski had to say about Waller entering 2019:
The 26-year-old (Darren) Waller, whom the Baltimore Ravens originally selected in the sixth round of the 2015 draft, played wide receiver at Georgia Tech and needed time to make the transition. His athleticism and receiving skills provide an interesting combination, but the Raiders have other options in Luke Willson, Derek Carrier and 2019 fourth-round pick Foster Moreau if Waller falters.
Head coach Jon Gruden has mentioned several times that they are excited to see Waller in camp and that they are going to give him the “chance of a lifetime” as there is no established starter at the position.
Given how athletic he is and the flashes we saw last season, it wouldn’t be all that surprising if Waller was able to win the starting job in camp. Look for the Raiders to give him every opportunity to do so this offseason.
