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Michael Mayer 2023 Outlook: Early Opportunity For Production
2 years agoLas Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer was viewed as the top prospect at the position for most of the pre-draft process, but ultimately went off the board as the TE3 in the 2023 NFL Draft. Tight ends often take time to develop, but the 21-year-old posted dominant receiving seasons at Notre Dame in each of the last two years, meaning he could be poised to make an immediate impact. Austin Hooper signed with the Raiders this offseason, but he got just a cheap, one-year deal. If Mayer is excellent in training camp and preseason, he could start out as the primary receiving tight end. New Raiders QB Jimmy Garoppolo might not be the flashiest signal-caller, but he's known to be efficient in the short to intermediate areas of the field -- so this could be a perfect pairing for early production for Mayer. Davante Adams will open up the field for Mayer and Jakobi Meyers, who could both have sneaky PPR upside in 2023. All that said, it's never a good idea to get too high on a rookie tight end. His low-end TE2 average draft position makes him worth a backup spot on fantasy rosters, but he shouldn't be counted on as a can't-miss player as a rookie. His dynasty value likely far outweighs what his 2023 production will yield.
