The tight end room for the Las Vegas Raiders will look completely different in 2023. The team traded away Darren Waller and lost Foster Moreau in free agency. The Raiders did sign both Austin Hooper and O.J. Howard in free agency, but the most promising addition, without a doubt, was the selection of Notre Dame’s Michael Mayer in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
Mayer was believed by many to be the most complete player at his position in this draft class, capable of putting up big numbers in the receiving game while also being a solid blocker as well. Expected to be a first-round pick, Mayer surprisingly dropped to the second round, where the Raiders took him 35th overall.
And now everything is set for Mayer to make his mark with the silver and black as the Raiders and Mayer have agreed to a four-year contract, according to our own Ryan Ward.
It took some time… The #Raiders have officially signed rookie TE Michael Mayer. pic.twitter.com/sICG1a6iEM
— Ryan Ward (@RyanWardNFL) June 15, 2023
It is great for the Raiders and Mayer to have this done before training camp begins so the promising player can focus on getting out on the field and dominating. Mayer was the lone consistent pass-catching threat for the Fighting Irish last season, more than doubling the receptions and receiving yards of anyone else on the team, and would be named a Consensus All-American.
Mayer has all the tools a team looks for in a tight end, with great size and solid athleticism while being very sure-handed. If nothing else, he should be an excellent red zone threat immediately, with his ability to use his size to his advantage over smaller defenders.
While he is not the home run threat that Waller was, Mayer should be a more reliable and consistent option for the Raiders this season. First-round pick Tyree Wilson is a bit more of a project as a pass rusher but has all the tools to dominate down the line. Mayer, on the other hand, has the potential to take over as the team’s top tight end from day one, and that is something he and the Raiders hope will come true.
