Notre Dame football: Could Michael Mayer go as high as Kyle Pitts?

The Notre Dame football team has a special talent in tight end Michael Mayer, but how high could he go in the 2023 NFL Draft?

During the 2021 NFL Draft, there were a handful of prospects that nearly every expert figured would go within the top-5 picks, though none of them were members of the Notre Dame football program. Of course, there was Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence, considered the consensus No. 1 overall pick, as well as Zach Wilson, a strong-armed quarterback from BYU.

Outside of the two quarterbacks, scouts loved Penei Sewell, a dominant offensive tackle from Oregon, as well as Ja’Marr Chase, who took the 2020 season off after winning a national title. In terms of the tight end spot, Kyle Pitts was the unquestioned top prospect at the position and consistently was mocked within the top-10 picks.

When it came time for the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft, it did not take Pitts long to hear his name called, as the Atlanta Falcons came calling with the No. 4 overall pick. In 2023, there will be another consensus top tight end coming out, and that is Notre Dame football star Michael Mayer, but could he go as high as Pitts did?

Notre Dame football star likely a top-5 pick in 2023

During his time at Florida, Pitts showed himself to be an absolute freak athletically, being able to not only go over the middle but also burn linebackers and defensive backs, much like Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs. Mayer’s game is a bit different, but as we see in today’s NFL, having a dominant tight end can be the difference between being a playoff team or just a team with an average offense.

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When all is said and done, I like Mayer to be a top-5 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, due to his ability to be a real game-changer at what has become one of the most important positions in the sport. Mayer still has another full season to go in South Bend, and based on his size, speed, and hands, I would not expect many teams to pass on him come April of 2023.