2023 NFL Draft: Top Landing Spots For Tight End Michael Mayer

The unthinkable happened last night. The NFL overthink of former Notre Dame star tight end Michael Mayer caused a massive slide, seeing the Irish legend not hear his name called in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft.

With Thursday now behind him, there are several teams that make a ton of sense for Mayer as day two begins on Friday night. Here are a few of the top team fits that make sense in the second round.

Detroit Lions - No. 34 (via Arizona Cardinals) and No. 48 overall

The Detroit Lions were a team that have been linked to Mayer for a while. They were in need of adding a tight end of Mayer’s caliber, possessing the upside to be one of the league’s best tight ends in a couple of seasons. He is also a short to intermediate separator who could project very favorably with a quarterback like Jared Goff.

This selection would also allow Mayer to reunite with fellow former Notre Dame tight end Brock Wright, who has become a nice contributor for the Lions. That duo could become a formidable one in the very near future, helping to complete one of the top offenses in the NFL heading into the 2023 season.

Las Vegas Raiders - No. 38 overall

With Darren Waller being traded to the New York Giants this off-season, it left a major hole at tight end for the Raiders. They attempted to fill it with Austin Hooper, who is a sound contributor but can clearly be upgraded. That could lead to Mayer, who would be the best player left available.

For a team that is going to be rolling out Jimmy Garoppolo at quarterback, having a player who dominates in the middle of the field would be huge. When he was at his best with the San Francisco 49ers, Garoppolo relied heavily on tight end George Kittle. Mayer brings a different skill set but could provide a similar level of comfort and dependability.

Carolina Panthers - No. 39 overall

The Panthers tight end room is a bit of an island of misfit toys heading into the 2023 season. They will be depending on Hayden Hurst, Ian Thomas and Tommy Tremble, which does not inspire a ton of confidence. Mayer would be an immediate upgrade from day one.

With Bryce Young taking over the quarterback position, finding him a best friend would be a big help. The Panthers are desperate for impact pass catchers on offense and Mayer could help that talent pool quickly. Plus he gets to potentially reunite with Tremble, giving Irish fans a flashback to the 2020 season.

Green Bay Packers - No. 42 (via New York Jets) and No. 45 overall

There is no team that needs help at the tight end position than the Green Bay Packers. As of right now, their two top tight ends are Josiah Deguara and Tyler Davis. That duo brings back a grand total of 17 receptions from last season.

The Packers are yet another team breaking in a new quarterback in Jordan Love. Getting a safety blanket is huge, especially one who wins through contact as well as Mayer does. It’s an easy and seamless fit.

Miami Dolphins - No. 51 overall

Tight end was a position that wasn’t nearly productive enough for the Dolphins last season. They also said goodbye to Mike Gesicki and Hunter Long this off-season, leaving just Durham Smythe, Eric Saubert and Tanner Conner. Finding a true top tight end is at a high priority.

With Head Coach Mike McDaniel coming from the Kyle Shanahan tree, there is a clear value to the tight end position in the offense. Mayer brings elements that could thrive in that offense, including physicality after the catch, ability to block and strong hands to play through contact. It’s a no brainer if he’s on the board.

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