Las Vegas Raiders select Michael Mayer in second round of 2023 NFL Draft

The Las Vegas Raiders just made their running and passing game a lot more interesting heading into next season, selecting former Notre Dame star tight end Michael Mayer with the No. 35 overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft. Mayer excelled as both a pass catcher and a blocker in his last three seasons with the Fighting Irish, and will be looking to do the same for the Raiders.

Mayer was a high school product out of Covington Catholic in Kentucky, where he was ranked the No. 3 tight end in the nation and the No. 34 overall prospect in the 2020 class according to On3’s Industry Rankings. He’d go on to maintain that status as one of the nation’s best tight end for the next three seasons, ending his storied career at Notre Dame with 180 receptions for 2,099 yards and 18 touchdowns.

His receptions are the most in school history at the tight end position, as he earned Consensus All-American honors last season and Third-team All-American honors the year prior. Mayer’s 6-foot-4, 250 pound frame gives him the prototypical build you’d want for an NFL tight end, as he also ran a 4.7-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine.

Mayer proved that he’s more than a capable as a pass catcher, with reliable hands and a knack for breaking tackles on the second and third level of the defense. But he’s also an aggressive and effective option in the run blocking game, grading out with a 82.1 run blocking grade according to PFF in 2022.

What NFL draft analysts are saying about Michael Mayer

Mayer was nicknamed ‘Baby Gronk’ during his playing days at Notre Dame, but can he live up to the name at the NFL level? NFL.com draft analysts Lance Zierlein evaluated Mayer, and may not have compared him to Rob Gronkowksi, but he does remind him of another Hall of Fame tight end, Jason Witten.

“Big combination tight end with the demeanor for run blocking and the size for tough, chain-moving catches underneath. Mayer will come into the league with better blocking technique than most tight ends in this year’s draft. He’s built for in-line duty and was an extension of the Notre Dame offensive line at times,” Zierlein said. “His feet are a little heavy getting into and through his routes, but he has the hand strength and contact balance to win heavily contested catches on the first two levels. Mayer might need to polish his route running to become a high-volume target, but he’s a safe pick and will be a good pro who can become a plus player as a run blocker and pass catcher.”