Can Michael Mayer win OROY?

The Las Vegas Raiders were one of the more fortunate teams in the 2023 NFL Draft, when they traded up to select Notre Dame tight end Michael Mayer in the second round.

Mayer was widely expected to be a first-round pick, as he was arguably the best tight end prospect in the class. Mayer set several school records with the Fighting Irish, including becoming the all-time leader in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns by a tight end.

Mayer finished his college career with 180 receptions, 2,099 yards and 18 touchdowns, and was named a Consensus All-American in 2022. Not only did he post incredible numbers, but he also tested well athletically.

Mayer excels on all parts of the field. He can run several routes, has strong hands and is tough to tackle. He was considered one of the top tight end prospects of the last few years.

Mayer joins a revamped tight end room in Las Vegas that includes journeymen such as Austin Hooper and O.J. Howard. Because these players are on one-year contracts, Mayer has a chance to quickly establish himself as a prominent figure in the Raiders’ offense for years to come.

The question then becomes: Will that production lead to Mayer winning Offensive Rookie of the Year? While there isn’t a clear answer to that question, he might face an uphill battle to win the award.

Now, Mayer’s uphill battle is not his own fault. There are simply several players who were drafted ahead of him who are being given higher odds to win the award, including Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young and Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson.

Those aren’t the only players ahead of Mayer, as he is not even listed in the top 20 of best odds on many sportsbooks. What also makes Mayer’s path to winning the award interesting is that if he were to win it, he would be the first tight end to ever do so.

Mayer projects to be an excellent tight end and should have an impressive rookie season, but it might not result in him winning Offensive Rookie of the Year, by no fault of his own.

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