Las Vegas Raiders find Darren Waller replacement

Las Vegas Raiders trade up to draft Notre Dame tight end Michael Mayer

The Las Vegas Raiders have found their replacement for Darren Waller.

Just a month after they traded away the talented tight end to the New York Giants, the Raiders traded up in the 2023 NFL draft and have selected Notre Dame tight end Michael Mayer. The Raiders moved up to pick No. 35, sending pick No. 38 and 141 to the Indianapolis Colts.

Mayer was the third tight end taken in this draft, following Dalton Kincaid and Sam LaPorta. It fills a big need for the Raiders after they moved on from Waller in the offseason.

Here is the scouting report on Mayer from NFL analyst Lance Zierlein:

Big combination tight end with the demeanor for run blocking and the size for tough, chain-moving catches underneath. Mayer will come into the league with better blocking technique than most tight ends in this year’s draft. He’s built for in-line duty and was an extension of the Notre Dame offensive line at times. His feet are a little heavy getting into and through his routes, but he has the hand strength and contact balance to win heavily contested catches on the first two levels. Mayer might need to polish his route running to become a high-volume target, but he’s a safe pick and will be a good pro who can become a plus player as a run blocker and pass catcher.

Mayer has drawn comparisons to Jason Witten and should see a very active role early in his career in Las Vegas.

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