Over the last two years, you can make a case that Darren Waller has been the second-best tight end in the league behind Travis Kelce. He’s been a dynamic receiver and he’s actually improved drastically as a blocker. But where does Waller rank among the NFL’s top tight ends entering the 2021 season?
In a recent article by Ben Linsley of Pro Football Focus, Waller came in at No. 3 behind only Travis Kelce and George Kittle. Here is what the site had to say about the former Georgia Tech star:
“Waller has crept closer to the Kittle-Kelce tier at the top of the position with his play over the last two seasons for the Raiders. He’s earned PFF receiving grades of at least 85.0 in each of the past two years, falling behind only Kelce in receiving grade during the 2020 season (90.9).
While some tight ends need to be schemed production, Waller is fully capable of lining up out wide and beating cornerbacks as a receiver. His 2.3 yards per route run when lined up outside in 2020 were more than any other tight end with at least 75 such routes, including Kelce.”
Waller could still improve as a blocker, but he is just about as good as it gets as a receiver. The Raiders have designed an offense that flows through Waller and it’s hard not to see why. He is one of the most dynamic weapons in all of the NFL and should post another 1,000-yard season in 2021.
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