Darren Waller took a circuitous route toward becoming the NFL's highest-paid tight end.
Originally a sixth-round pick by the Baltimore Ravens in the 2015 NFL draft, Waller spent most of his time with the team on the practice squad. Waller battled substance abuse and addiction and has publicly spoken about how it nearly derailed his NFL career. During a game in 2018, then-Raiders offensive coordinator Greg Olson saw Waller warming up on the field and was awed by the combination of his 6-foot-6, 255-pound size and athleticism. The following week, the Raiders signed Waller off of the Ravens' practice squad. In 2019, Waller enjoyed a breakthrough season (90 catches, 1,145 yards, three touchdowns) and earned a Pro Bowl nod. The next season, he was even better (107 catches, 1,196 yards and nine touchdowns).
Injuries during the previous two seasons prevented Waller from matching those 2019-20 statistical totals, but that didn't deter the New York Giants from pulling off a trade for the game-breaking tight end during the offseason.
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Waller, who is slated to earn $17 million this season on the three-year, $51 million contract extension he signed in 2022 while with the Las Vegas Raiders.
Here are the tight end salary rankings based on average annual value, according to Over The Cap.
1. Darren Waller, New York Giants: $17 million (3 years, $51 million)
2. George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers: $15 million (5 years, $75 million)
3. Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs: $14.31 million (4 years, $57.25 million)
4. Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles: $14.25 million (4 years, $57 million)
5. Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens: $14 million (4 years, $56 million)
6. Evan Engram, Jacksonville Jaguars: $13.75 million (3 years, $41.25 million)
7. David Njoku, Cleveland Browns: $13.68 million (4 years, $54.75 million)
8. Dawson Knox, Buffalo Bills: $13 million (4 years, $52 million)
9 (tie). Cole Kmet, Chicago Bears: $12.5 million (4 years, $50 million)
9 (tie). Hunter Henry, New England Patriots: $12.5 million (3 years, $37.5 million)
11. Zach Ertz, Arizona Cardinals: $10.55 million (3 years, $31.65 million)
12. Taysom Hill, New Orleans Saints: $10 million (4 years, $40 million)
13. Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons: $8.22 million (4 years, $32.91 million)
14. Logan Thomas, Washington Commanders: $8.02 million (4 years, $24.06 million)
15 (tie). Will Dissly, Seattle Seahawks: $8 million (3 years, $24 million)
15 (tie). C.J. Uzomah, New York Jets: $8 million (3 years, $24 million)
17. Jonnu Smith, Atlanta Falcons: $7.5 million (2 years, $15 million)
18. Tyler Higbee, Los Angeles Rams: $7.25 million (4 years, $29 million)
19. Hayden Hurst, Carolina Panthers: $7.25 million (3 years, $21.75 million)
20. Josh Oliver, Minnesota Vikings: $7 million (3 years, $21 million)
21. Tyler Conklin, New York Jets: $6.75 million (3 years, $20.25 million)
22. Dalton Schultz, Houston Texans: $6.25 million (1 year, $6.25 million)
23. Juwan Johnson, New Orleans Saints: $6 million (2 years, $12.01 million)
24. Gerald Everett, Los Angeles Chargers: $6 million (2 years, $12 million)
25. Mo Alie-Cox, Indianapolis Colts: $5.85 million (3 years, $17.55 million)
