Joel Klatt sends Michael Mayer to Packers in mock draft

The tight end group of the 2023 NFL Draft class is a stacked one, loaded with talent pass catchers and blockers from across the country. Notre Dame tight end Michael Mayer has been regarded as one of the best in college football for some time now, and college football analyst Joel Klatt believes he could be just what the Green Bay Packers need.

In Klatt’s Mock Draft 1.0, he projected Mayer being selected No. 15 overall by the Packers, and explained why he’d be a good fit in the green and gold.

“This was a really fun pick to make because I really wanted to take a wide receiver, just so that (Aaron) Rodgers would lose his mind and be like, ‘this is exactly what I wanted and it never happened’. It wasn’t a wide receiver but I am going to give them a skill position player, my best tight end on the board, Michael Mayer the Notre Dame tight end,” Klatt said.

Rodgers has still not been traded to the New York Jets, but is expected to join the team once the trade between Green Bay and New York is finalized. The Packers selecting a pass catcher would be ironic paired with Rodgers departure, as they haven’t a wide receiver or tight end in the first round since 2002. Mayer would make an immediate impact on the Packers offense and provide a reliable safety blanket for first year starting quarterback Jordan Love.

“Really love his game, in particular on an offense that did not have a dynamic quarterback that would struggle at times and he was the focal point,” Klatt said. “Very similar to Sam LaPorta, it you’ve watched my show at all or listen to my show you know what I say about Sam LaPorta.”

Klatt isn’t necessarily comparing Mayer’s game to LaPorta, but his situation. Mayer still ended last season with 67 catches for 809 yards and nine touchdown catches on Notre Dame’s struggling offense, and according to Klatt he did it the right way.

“Terrible offense, the defense focused on trying to stop Sam LaPorta, this is the exact same analysis that you would give on Notre Dame. Everyone’s trying to stop Michael Mayer and he still was able to produce. Great player, great kid, great leader, and he’s a, I think, a really safe pick and the Packers would be better with Mayer at tight end,” Klatt concluded.