2023 NFL Draft Profile: TE Michael Mayer

Embed from Getty Images

• With a stellar tenure in South Bend, Michael Mayer leaped to the top of every tight-end draft board. The six-foot-four, 249-pound Mayer snagged one-hundred-eighty passes for 2,099 yards and eighteen touchdowns. Moreover, he functioned as not only a security blanket but a viable target that placed pressure on defenses. During his stray at Notre Dame, the Kentucky native earned two All-American nominations. The prospect finished his collegiate career with more catches than any tight end in the history of Notre Dame.

Strengths

In a world of masquerading pumped-up wide receivers and cement-footed sixth linemen, Mayer is an anomaly for a multitude of reasons. First, he uses his size advantage over all defensive backs and some linebackers. With the ball in the air, the prospect will create a shielded target, preventing jumping of the route. Furthermore, Mayer uses his size to willingly engage blockers with force and determination. From snap to whistle, whoever he locks on with goes for that full trip far away from the play. Meanwhile, Mayer flashes the ability to not only win off the line of scrimmage but threaten the seam as well. The former Fighting Irish standout drives down the route, pushing the defender back without contact. Furthermore, Mayer lives for the contested catch, as he will battle for the ball like a power forward does for a rebound.

Weaknesses

Mayer is more of an upgraded traditional tight end than a twitched-up hybrid. Similarly, you will not see the prospect streak by a defensive back. Mayer possesses burst off the line, but not the explosion of the modern NFL tight end. This carries to blocking. If Mayer has to block on the run, faster defenders will make him miss and wipe his hands away with ease. At the next level, if teams split Mayer out wide, what routes he runs will not threaten the second level. At Notre Dame, the tight-end routes were not fancy or intricate, more of a meat-and-potatoes approach. Route diversity must remain a constant area of improvement.

Around Full Press Coverage

OPINION: Morten Andersen: The Toughest Place To Kick? For Me, It Was This Place

NFL: NFL 2022: Five Key Statistics for Week 2

NFL: Kansas City Chiefs Stock Report: Week 2 2022

FULL PRESS BETS: NFL MVP Odds: Patrick Mahomes Leapfrogs Josh Allen For Top Spot

FANTASY FOOTBALL: Fantasy Football Value Picks In Every Round

PODCAST: Full Press NFL Podcast Ep 54: Chargers At Chiefs Preview

Ideal Role

From the first day of camp to his last press conference, Michael Mayer pads up as TE1. A three-down tight end for every offensive situation, Mayer should see nine out of ten snaps during a game. Regardless of which team drafts him, he will fit into any scheme. Teams with athletic quarterbacks will appreciate Mayer’s ability to trace back to the passer, snapping off the route, sensing a quarterback under pressure. In contrast, stereotypical. dropback passers will love the fate that on every pattern, the prospect will be exactly where the ball needs to go. In the red zone, Mayer will keep the defender on his hip, using his catch radius to box out.

Potential Fits

Two teams with similar frustration but a divergent path to this point, the Dallas Cowboys and Los Angeles Chargers need a player like Mayer. In Dallas, the Cowboys need another offensive weapon, especially one that will open up the field for the other weapons. As of this writing, Dalton Schultz remains a free agent. Under those circumstances, Dallas drafts Mayer to replace him. With a new offense that should see the Notre Dame standout enjoy his fair share of targets. At the same time, the Chargers, under Kellen Moore running the offense would benefit. The Chargers sit at a crossroads. Austin Ekeler wants out, and the offense changes. Justin Herbert needs to stack playoff wins alongside regular season stats.