Notre Dame tight finish Michael Mayer has been lauded as a future NFL prospect since he was embarking on a season by which he was named an All-American as a real freshman in 2020. Within the midst of stated season, Mayer was coined the nickname “Child Gronk” as a star was born very early on for the Irish. Mayer solely grew as a participant from there ahead as he was awarded with being an All-American in back-to-back seasons (2021 and 2022). He completed off his faculty marketing campaign in 2022 with 809 yards on 67 receptions and 9 scores.
The “Child Gronk” nickname was all the time unfair, however Mayer has delivered as a relentless in his faculty profession. Mayer is about to return into the NFL as a participant with a really excessive flooring. There’s no secret of what his position will likely be as he enters the following degree. Mayer is a pure Y tight finish via and thru. He’s not going to stun you with unbelievable bodily instruments, however the mix of capability to maneuver our bodies within the run recreation and to be a practical move catcher makes him one of many safer tight finish choices within the 2023 NFL Draft.
2023 NFL Draft Choice
The Las Vegas Raiders traded as much as choose Michael Mayer with the No. 35 total decide within the 2023 NFL Draft. For full protection of the Michael Mayer decide, head over to Silver & Black Pleasure.
Michael Mayer goes to be a coach’s greatest pal within the NFL
It’s a cliché phrase at its base, however, within the case of Mayer, it’s so true. Mayer understands every bit of intricacy to the sport on the tight finish place. He’s a dynamic blocker with much more potential to get higher. Offensive line coaches will love him for what he’ll add as a sixth man on the finish of the road of scrimmage. Tight finish coaches will love him for a way mature he will likely be earlier than even getting into the league. Tight finish has historically been the largest studying curve positionally for prospects getting into the NFL, however Mayer is as prepared as they’ll come.
Mayer’s palms are additionally excellent for the place. He performs like a bear within the trenches and within the passing recreation as he assaults and engulfs the soccer. Mayer has accomplished effectively in his profession to slide by defenders on his strategy to stacking up the opposing defender to place them in battle as he will get into his route stem. Mayer additionally has expertise splitting out large and having success as a receiver successful in contested conditions and making himself an possibility in opposition to zone protection — a little bit bit extra versatility than chances are you’ll assume at first look.
The questions on Michael Mayer’s upside are a good recreation
For all the optimistic speak about Mayer’s soccer IQ and polish popping out of school, there stays some query about his athleticism and upside as a receiving possibility. No person will confuse Mayer as a unicorn kind of an athlete like Kyle Pitts or an insane physique kind the likes of a Darnell Washington on this class. Mayer’s measurement and athleticism are simply, effectively, common. He does have manufacturing you wish to see from a receiving standpoint, nevertheless it’s clear on tape that Mayer pinballs quite than really making performs with the ball in his palms. He additionally has to work extraordinarily arduous to create any separation in opposition to true man-to-man or match protection due to some heaviness to his toes when he has to all of a sudden change instructions. All of those elements will drive questions on what sort of manufacturing he can have as a receiver within the NFL.
Mayer nonetheless has work to do as a run blocker, as effectively, persevering with to shine his hand strikes into defenders as a substitute of simply throwing his physique on some reps. His upside as a blocker is thru the roof, nevertheless it’s not all the best way there simply but. The blocking tape in opposition to Clemson (elite) versus the blocking tape in opposition to Ohio State (beneath common) present the stark mix he can have from a consistency standpoint at this stage.
How Michael Mayer measures up
As talked about earlier, Mayer has a mean profile from an athletic standpoint on tape and that profile matched up pretty effectively along with his on-field exercises on the NFL Mix in March and at Notre Dame’s Professional Day.
- 40-yard sprint: 4.70 seconds
- Broad Bounce: 9’10
- Vertical Bounce: 32.5”
- 20-yard shuttle (Professional Day): 4.44 seconds
- 3-Cone Drill (Professional Day): 7.26 seconds
What others are saying about Michael Mayer
The Athletic’s Nate Tice had this to say about Mayer:
Mayer won’t have the athletic instruments and size to make him a high-end mismatch nightmare, however he will likely be a quarterback’s greatest pal as a flexible auxiliary weapon and supply successful snaps as a blocker.
NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein supplied his ideas about Mayer as effectively:
Mayer may want to shine his route working to turn into a high-volume goal, however he’s a secure decide and will likely be a great professional who can turn into a plus participant as a run blocker and move catcher.
Michael Mayer has a really excessive flooring and could possibly be one of many few tight finish prospects that may contribute to a staff at an above common degree instantly. Some questions with Mayer nonetheless linger as a result of some lingering athletic questions along with some dangerous quarterback play that restricted his manufacturing to an extent his closing yr in faculty. A staff goes to sleep soundly at night time in the event that they choose Mayer center to late first spherical within the 2023 Draft.
