Michael Mayer (Raiders) NFL Draft Preview
Post-Draft Fantasy Impact
Michael Mayer, the highly-touted Notre Dame tight end, was drafted in the second round by the Las Vegas Raiders. Despite being projected by many as a first-round pick, the Raiders were able to snatch him up in the second round.
The Raiders signed veteran tight end Austin Hooper in the offseason, but Mayer’s arrival adds a new dynamic to the position. Mayer has been called “Baby Gronk” due to his similar playing style to Rob Gronkowski. This is a comparison that should excite fantasy football owners who remember the dominant seasons Gronkowski had in New England under Raiders Head Coach Josh McDaniels.
McDaniels is known for his innovative offensive schemes, and he coached Gronkowski during his prime years in New England. With Mayer’s similar skill set, there is reason to believe that McDaniels could use Mayer in a similar fashion. This would give Mayer significant fantasy football upside.
I have Mayer projected for the most fantasy points among rookie tight ends this season, just ahead of Dalton Kincaid. He’s a TE-2 with upside and a solid pick for those who wait to draft tight ends.
His dynasty upside is tremendous. If he develops as expected and McDaniels uses him as he did Gronkowski, Mayer could be the overall TE-1 within a few years.
Michael Mayer NFL Draft Preview
Michael Mayer, the consensus #1 Tight End, is a virtual lock to be drafted in the first round. He has the size, the talent, and the nickname, (Baby Gronk), to be a high-performing starter in the league for years to come.
In his freshman year at Notre Dame in 2020, Mayer quickly made a name for himself as a key player on the Fighting Irish team. He played in all 12 games of the season, starting in nine of them, and quickly emerged as one of the team’s top offensive weapons. Mayer’s combination of size, speed, and soft hands made him an ESPN Freshman All-American.
Last season, Mayer was a Team Captain, a finalist for the Mackey Award, a semi-finalist for the Maxwell Award, given to the most valuable player in college football, and was the first TE for the Fighting Irish to be named a consensus All-American since 1976. He finished as the all-time reception leader for tight ends at Notre Dame.
Mayer finished his college career with 180 receptions for 2099 yards and 18 touchdowns. He is projected to go off the board in the middle of the first round.
Daniel Jeremiah has the Saints taking Notre Dame TE Michael Mayer at pick #29.
What do y’all think about the Saints adding him to the offense?pic.twitter.com/glPFWX4Hdc
— Barstool NOLA (@BarstoolNOLA) March 21, 2023
Measurables
- 6’4½” 249 lbs
- 40-yard dash – 4.70 seconds
- Vertical jump – 32.5”
- Broad Jump – 9’10”
Michael Mayer is going to be a top 20 pick in the NFL Draft.
21 Years Old with great college production- 180 receptions and 18 TDs at Notre Dame. Back to back 800 yard seasons.
He should be drafted as a top 12 TE in Dynasty pic.twitter.com/obR1bYdNUR
— TheOGfantasyfootball (@TheOGfantasy) January 22, 2023
Positives
As the all-time reception leader for a tight end at the university, he has shown that he has a great set of hands and the ability to make contested catches. Mayer has ideal size for a tight end at 6’4″ and 251 pounds. He is also an impressive athlete, with decent speed and agility for his size.
Mayer is a polished route runner. He shows good understanding of how to set up defenders, and has good hands to catch the ball when it arrives.
He has excellent skills as a run blocker. His size and strength allow him to run over defenders and create space for his teammates to make plays. Mayer has quickness off the snap. He gets off the line quickly and uses his body to create separation from defenders.
Mayer is a threat after the catch, thanks to his combination of size, athleticism, and elusiveness. He has shown the ability to break tackles and pick up yards after the catch.
He’s a huge red zone threat, scoring nine touchdowns in 12 games his senior year.
.@NDFootball TE Michael Mayer is unstoppable 💪
The 2023 Draft is calling his name 👀 @MMayer1001
📺: 2023 #NFLDraft – April 27-29 on NFLN/ESPN/ABC pic.twitter.com/9xJYVofwKa
— NFL (@NFL) March 27, 2023
Negatives
Mayer does not possess elite speed. This could make it more difficult for him to create separation from defenders at the next level, particularly against faster and more athletic opponents.
He has had some issues with drops and mental errors in his college career. His 5.3% drop rate will need to come down. He will need to work on his focus and consistency to become a reliable target at the next level.
Grade – A
Mayer has the physical tools and skill set to become a top-tier tight end in the NFL. He is a versatile weapon who can be used in a variety of ways in the passing game, and he has the blocking ability to be a valuable asset in the running game as well. He has drawn comparisons to Mark Andrews and Jason Witten and has the potential to develop into a Pro Bowl-caliber tight end.
Green Bay and Cincinnati are teams that could have interest in Mayer. Both would be good fits, but whichever team drafts him, Mayer should be an immediate contributor for fantasy and likely finish as a top 12 TE in his rookie season.
Doug Burrell finished 2022 as Fantasy Nerd’s Most Accurate Expert in NFL Picks and Tallysight’s #1 ranked expert Against the Spread Expert out of 200+ experts. He is a veteran, a runner and an avid fantasy sports enthusiast since 1999. You can reach him on Twitter @dougwburrell.
