NFL
By Jalen Willingham
After the various moves and players lost during free agency, tight end Michael Mayer may be the Cincinnati Bengals best bet at pick 28. A variety of positions on the team are in the process of an overhaul. The tight end spot is a prime example. When Cincinnati chose not to bring back Hayden Hurst on a longer-term deal, quite a few people were surprised but it wasn’t the end of the world however.
Mayer is a tight end who is already polished and NFL-ready. At 6’4 250 lbs, he offers flexibility as a solid blocker and a good pass catcher as well. In three years at Notre Dame, Mayer was a three-year starter who had 180 catches, 2,099 yards, and 18 touchdowns. He went on to be a two-time All-American as well.
The last time the Cincinnati Bengals drafted a tight end in the first round was in 2013 when they took Tyler Eifert 21st overall. Guess where he came from? Also Notre Dame. Can they do it once again 10 years later? I hope so. Having a guy like this in the Bengals’ offense next to Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, Tyler Boyd, and recently signed tight end Irv Smith Jr. could do wonders for the offense going forward.
Is Michael Mayer The Way To Go?
One downside to Mayer is that his ceiling may not be as high as other prospects at the tight end position in this year’s Draft. Some people have gone on to say that he lacks athleticism, has failed to create separation at times, and also not get enough yards after the catch. No one can attack how productive Mayer was in his three seasons at Notre Dame though. The thought that he isn’t athletic is just not true. He may not be the fastest tight end in the Draft, but you can’t go wrong with an 8.08 RAS score from a prospective tight end.
It was quickly revealed and understood that the Bengals weren’t willing to offer Hurst the type of contract that he got from the Carolina Panthers due to his age and the simple fact that the tight end spot isn’t a higher-value position within the Cincinnati offense. Before the signing of Irv Smith Jr. , the Bengals’ tight end room included Devin Asiasi, Nick Bowers, and Tanner Hudson. In short, it was far from ideal.
At this point in the offseason, there aren’t many viable options left at tight end for the Bengals. All of the worthy candidates have been taken by other teams. Foster Moreau, who did visit Cincinnati, is now dealing with Hodgkin Lymphoma.
Even with the addition of Irv Smith Jr. on a one-year prove-it deal, don’t be surprised if the Bengals decide to take two tight ends to be safe.
Scouts have compared Mayer to future Hall-of-Fame tight end Jason Witten due to his toughness and blocking ability. Mayer could turn out to be a very solid player in both the run and passing game. In a pass-happy league that is utilizing tight ends now more than ever, every team could use a Michael Mayer.
