The Las Vegas Raiders are expected to take a step in the right direction this season, but there are still concerns about whether they have enough weapons on offense to compete in the AFC West. Brock Bowers might be the best tight end in the NFL, but Jakobi Meyers is the only proven wide receiver on the roster.
This could lead to the Raiders needing their second tight end to have a big role. Michael Mayer was a second-round pick in 2023, but he hasn’t lived up to his draft status yet. Part of the reason is due to Bowers’ role in the offense.
However, Mayer was highly touted coming out of Notre Dame and could still have big-time potential. The problem is that it’s always going to be difficult for him to have a big role while Bowers is on the roster. That’s why Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report believes the Raiders would be wise to trade Mayer
“Las Vegas should take a more active approach to moving the 24-year-old this preseason,” Knox wrote. “While it’s impossible to have too much talent at tight end, he probably has more value to the Raiders as a trade chip than as a bit player in the offense.
“Having tallied 809 yards and nine touchdowns in his final collegiate season, Mayer should have enough untapped potential to interest other teams.”
Mayer Is Having Strong Training Camp
While trading Mayer at some point could be a logical move, it doesn’t make much sense to do it now. He’s coming off a disappointing first two years due to injuries and a personal issue last season.
He has shown flashes of why he was an early second-round pick, but hasn’t been consistent. Many reports out of training camp have suggested that he’s looking very good in practice. Right now, his value is low, but if he can have a good season, that’ll help his value.
At most, the Raiders should wait until the season starts up to see if a team wants to pay a good price for him closer to the deadline.
Mayer Is Feeling the Best He Has Since Coming to NFL
Mayer should get plenty of targets this season due to the Raiders’ inexperience at wide receiver. While Bowers will continue to see the ball most often, Geno Smith is the best quarterback the team has had since Mayer has been here.
That should make it easier for him to see targets. From his perspective, he’s feeling the best he has since entering the NFL.
“I think this is the best I felt in my two and a half, three years in the NFL, no doubt about it,” Mayer told reporters earlier in training camp. “And I think that that comes with mentally and emotionally being where you want to be, because your body’s not going to be where you want to be if your mental is not where you want it to be. And my mental and my emotional is the best it’s been also. So, it’s a connection of all three and the physical also.”
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