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Where Michael Mayer, Isaiah Foskey appear in two multi-round mock drafts

On3 imageby:Patrick Engel•04/05/23•

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Michael Mayer
Quinn Harris/Getty Images

NFL Draft analysts Todd McShay and Mike Renner agree on the exact landing spot for Notre Dame tight end Michael Mayer. They do not, though, share the same opinion of where he will be selected at his position – even though neither thinks he will be the first tight taken when the 2023 draft starts April 27.

Mayer is the No. 26 overall pick to the Dallas Cowboys in McShay’s and Renner’s multi-round mock drafts, published this week on ESPN and Pro Football Focus, respectively. Both see him becoming the immediate replacement for the Cowboys’ departed starting tight end, Dalton Schultz.

“[Mayer] is the most complete tight end in this draft class and could be a plug-and-play starter as Dak Prescott’s new security blanket,” McShay wrote. “At 6-5 and 249 pounds, Mayer is a legit blocker who would provide Tony Pollard with more running lanes. And while he’s not much of a vertical threat, his excellent ball skills would open up the offense at the intermediate level. Mayer posted back-to-back seasons with at least 800 receiving yards and seven touchdowns, and he’s a bulldozer after the catch.”

Added Renner: “He’s an NFL-ready inline blocker with ultra-reliable receiving skills. His game compares closely to that of former Cowboys tight end Jason Witten, as well.”

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Both analysts have Utah’s Dalton Kincaid as the first tight end drafted. Renner has another one going before Mayer: Georgia’s Darnell Washington.

Kincaid went two spots earlier to the Jacksonville Jaguars in McShay’s two-round mock, while Renner slotted him at No. 21 to the Los Angeles Chargers in his projection for the first three rounds.

“Why Kincaid over [Mayer]?” McShay wrote. “Mayer is the better blocker, but Kincaid is the more explosive pass-catcher. He’s a seam-stretcher who would fit perfectly in this Jacksonville offense.”

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Renner also gave the Jaguars a tight end, but opted for Washington over Mayer.

“General manager Trent Baalke loves outliers, and Washington is as outlier-y as it gets,” Renner wrote. “The massive 6-foot-7 target gives head coach Doug Pederson some flexibility in deploying two-tight end sets.”

Only one mock included Notre Dame defensive end Isaiah Foskey. That was Renner’s, which has the Irish’s all-time sacks leader going No. 56 to the Jaguars in the second round.

“Foskey has the kind of length the Jaguars covet,” Renner wrote.

The 6-foot-5, 262-pound Foskey is the No. 62 overall player on Renner’s top 150 big board. One other Notre Dame prospect made the cut: safety Brandon Joseph (No. 149).

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