Raiders, Waller agree to contract extension

Star tight end Darren Waller has agreed on a three-year contract extension with the Raiders.

Agent Drew Rosenhaus said the sides reached the deal on Saturday that adds $51 million to Waller’s existing contract that was previously set to pay him about $7 million in each of the next two seasons.

The reworked deal will pay Waller an average of a little more than $13 million a season through 2026. The new money average of $17 million a year exceeds the top existing deal at the position that pays 49ers’ George Kittle $15 million per season. Waller had previously had the 18th highest average annual salary at the position.

“Darren Waller is an exemplary teammate in every way, and we’re excited to see him continue to grow as a leader on this team,” Raiders coach Josh McDaniels said in a statement. “Darren brings a tremendous commitment and work ethic to the building every day and we couldn’t be more thrilled that he will be a part of the

Raiders family for years to come.”

Waller had two years remaining on the contract he signed during his 2019 breakout season. Waller had been looking for a new deal and changed agents to Rosenhaus last week.

Auto racing: Tyler Reddick will start from the pole in the NASCAR Cup Series playoff race at Kansas Speedway. He stopped the clock in 29.899 seconds, denying Joey Logano a second straight pole.

Golf: Scottie Scheffler is the PGA Tour player of the year and it wasn’t a big surprise. Scheffler won 89% of the vote from players. He was selected over British Open champ Cameron Smith and FedEx Cup champ Rory McIlroy.

MLB: The players’ association will submit union authorization cards to an arbitrator on Wednesday under an agreement with MLB that will lead to collective bargaining for approximately 5,500 farmhands. MLB and the union reached a cardcheck agreement Saturday.