The Jacksonville Jaguars made headlines this offseason by bringing in Tim Tebow as a tight end. If there is one player that is all too familiar with the challenges of playing the position at a high level, it is Las Vegas Raiders’ star, Darren Waller.
Waller entered the league as a wide receiver before making the switch to tight end. He is now coming off consecutive 1,000-yard campaigns and his first Pro Bowl nod.
The transition for Waller was easier given the nature of the position he was already accustomed to. Regardless, it seems he is still willing to help out where he can.
Waller offered to teach Tebow about some of the intricacies of the position, via TMZ.com:
“If he thinks he can learn from me, then I’d love to help him and help make his transition smoother,” Waller said.
Waller spoke on his own efforts to garner advice from others and how much it helped with the transition.
“I tried to find any information I could from watching guys play or asking people when I moved,” Waller said of his own move. “So I’d love to continue to pass that on and help him be a better player.”
Tebow is still widely considered to be a long shot to make the 53-man roster leading up to the 2021 NFL season. However, Waller is optimistic that his pedigree as a football player makes it possible.
“Football is in his blood,” Waller said. “So I feel like he’ll find a way. He’ll find a way. He’s physical, he’s athletic. So I wish him nothing but the best going forward.”
Tebow is coming off quite a layoff from football, with his last taste of NFL action coming back in 2012. But, even if he has a difficult task ahead of him, it is clear that Waller is still a fan of his game.
Tebow would be wise to gain all the information that he can to increase his chances of making the team. Waller is certainly one of the most qualified people to gain mentorship from, given his success as the No. 1 option in the passing game for the Raiders.
There is no question that the opportunity to learn from one of the best in the game would undoubtedly pay some dividends for Tebow. It will be interesting to see if he ultimately takes Waller up on his offer leading up to training camp.