Latest Mel Kiper Jr. mock draft has Michael Mayer going to a frequently projected destination
The endless churn of April mock drafts has produced a common landing spot for Notre Dame tight end Michael Mayer. The Dallas Cowboys, owners of the No. 26 overall pick in the first round April 27, have been a popular projected destination for Mayer as the draft nears.
Add ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. to the list of draft analysts to slot him there.
Kiper’s third mock draft, released Tuesday, had Mayer to Dallas. The fit makes sense. Mayer could immediately replace departed starting tight end Dalton Schultz, who signed with the Texans in March and was the team’s second-leading receiver in 2022. He has drawn comparisons to former Cowboys tight end Jason Witten, who totaled 13,046 yards in 18 NFL seasons.
“Mayer is the best all-around tight end in this class; he’s not afraid to latch on to defenders and block,” Kiper wrote. “Don’t discount his receiving upside, either. He had 180 catches for 2,099 yards and 18 scores in three college seasons. He can be an outlet on crossers and hooks and he’ll pick up first downs after the catch. Dallas also has scouted the class’ best wide receivers, so keep an eye out if one of the top guys drops.”
Kiper has also joined the growing movement of moving Mayer behind Utah tight end Dalton Kincaid in mocks and prospect rankings. That duo is the near-unanimous choice for the top two tight ends in the 2023 draft. The order varies from big board to big board or mock draft to mock draft. Kiper ranked Mayer as his No. 24 prospect and Kincaid No. 19. He had the Green Bay Packers taking Kincaid No. 15 overall in his latest mock.
“Kincaid is the best pass-catching tight end in this class,” Kiper wrote. “He had 16 touchdown receptions over the past two seasons. He can stretch the seams in the middle of the field.”
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Mayer, though, is more advanced as a blocker. Notre Dame frequently asked him to block, especially in its 12-personnel, run-heavy 2022 offense. At 6-foot-4 and 249 pounds, he’s built like many NFL tight ends already. Teams that want to run the ball and use in-line tight ends like the Cowboys seem like the best fit for him.
“You can’t bring in a Luke Musgrave, or a Dalton Kincaid, and get that blocking ability,” Kiper said Tuesday on ESPN’s First Take. “Darnell Washington as well could be an in-line guy, but Mayer’s just a little bit better in that area right now. For the complete tight end, the best fit I think is Michael Mayer.”
Mayer was the only Notre Dame player to appear in Kiper’s mock, which included the second round. He did not have defensive end Isaiah Foskey in the top 63 picks. Foskey is Kiper’s No. 7 defensive end. Kiper’s ESPN colleague Matt Miller ranked Foskey No. 60 overall and No. 8 among defensive ends.
