The best NFL fit for Notre Dame tight end Michael Mayer in 2023 NFL Draft

Michael Mayer emerged as a massive piece of the Notre Dame offense last season. Now getting ready for his junior season, the scuttle is building about the tight end’s fit in the 2023 NFL Draft.

Pro Football Focus released its best fit for Mayer in the 2023 draft, and if it holds true, he’ll wind up playing for one of the best coaches in the game’s history.

PFF lists the New England Patriots as the best NFL fit for Mayer. The Fighting Irish star had a huge year in 2021, totaling 840 receiving yards, second on the team only to Kevin Austin Jr. He also had seven touchdowns, which also tied with Austin for the team lead.

PFF’s Michael Renner said those numbers can translate well in New England, which saw Mac Jones put together an impressive rookie season last year. He thinks coach Bill Belichick will have a tough time passing on Mayer if he’s on the board when New England picks.

“Bill Belichick will take one look at what Mayer does in the run game and be willing to risk it all to add another tight end to the fold,” Renner wrote. “He can easily coexist with Hunter Henry as Mayer himself can get open one-on-one. He finished his sophomore season in 2021 with 71 catches for 840 yards and seven scores.”

ESPN’s Matt Miller released his first 2023 mock draft late last month and it had Mayer going No. 15 overall to the Cincinnati Bengals. Of course, the draft order won’t be decided until after the season, but that gives an indication of where draft analysts think Mayer could go in the first round. Depending on how things go for Jones and the Patriots, they could put themselves in position to land Mayer next June in Kansas City.