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Notre Dame football: 3 potential NFL draft landing spots for Michael Mayer

By Connor Muldowney

Jan 1, 2022; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish tight end Michael Mayer (87) celebrates a touchdown catch against the Oklahoma State Cowboys during the first half of the 2022 Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 1, 2022; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish tight end Michael Mayer (87) celebrates a touchdown catch against the Oklahoma State Cowboys during the first half of the 2022 Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /
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Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) covers his ears to receive a play in the first quarter of the AFC championship NFL game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Jan. 29, 2023, at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. The Chiefs led 13-6 at halftime.Cincinnati Bengals At Kansas City Chiefs Afc Championship Jan 29 134
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) covers his ears to receive a play in the first quarter of the AFC championship NFL game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Jan. 29, 2023, at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. The Chiefs led 13-6 at halftime.Cincinnati Bengals At Kansas City Chiefs Afc Championship Jan 29 134 /

2. Cincinnati Bengals (No. 29)

I just don’t see this as the most likely scenario unless the Bengals decided to trade up in the first round because Michael Mayer likely isn’t falling to No. 29, barring a surprise.

But some mocks have the Bengals going tight end in round one which means they might be extra motivated to aim for the best which is Mayer. He could help replace Hayden Hurts who was on a one-year deal with the Bengals this past season and played pretty well. It’s clear that Joe Burrow throws to his tight ends, so why not aim for a guy who has been called Baby Gronk.

Hurst could still re-sign with the Bengals, but I doubt Cincinnati will want to pay a big price for him when they could just get his replacement in the 2023 NFL Draft.

Cincinnati isn’t missing a lot of pieces as you could tell from their playoff runs in back-to-back years but an elite tight end would take that already-explosive offense to the next level.

Imagine an offense with Tee Higgins, Ja’Marr Chase, Burrow, Joe Mixon, and Mayer. That’d be a scary sight.

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