Notre Dame football: Could Michael Mayer be a top-5 pick in 2023?
By Brad Weiss
The Notre Dame football team has some elite players on their roster, a few of which should be first-round picks in the 2023 NFL Draft.
During the 2022 NFL Draft, the Notre Dame football program finally saw its first-round drought end, as Kyle Hamilton was selected with the No. 14 overall pick by the Baltimore Ravens. Going into the draft, many experts expected Hamilton to be a top-5 pick, making him the highest selected Irish player since Rick Mirer was selected No. 2 overall back in 1993.
In 2023, that honor could belong to Michael Mayer, the best tight end in the 2023 NFL Draft class, and a player who will likely pass on his remaining eligibility after this upcoming season. Mayer has accomplished everything you can individually at Notre Dame football, and hopefully, he can help this team to a College Football Playoff berth, and possible run at a national title this year.
Plus, when you consider that the Irish could have multiple All-Americans upfronts along the offensive line, you have to like this offense’s chances of being explosive in 2022. If that is the case, you can be sure that Mayer is in the middle of most of the success.
Could Notre Dame football TE Michael Mayer go top-5?
Over the past few drafts, we have seen tight ends go high in the first round, including Florida’s Kyle Pitts, who went No. 6 overall to the Atlanta Falcons in 2021. Going into the 2023 NFL Draft, Mayer will have the same kind of buzz that Pitts did, as he is a do-everything tight end who is cut from the Rob Gronkowski mold.
Mayer has become arguably the best tight end in the history of a football program that is known for producing elite tight ends, and a strong capper to his career will certainly land him in the first round, possibly in the top-5.
In the end, I believe Mayer will be a top-10 pick next year, as teams are going to need quarterback help, and we could see a run of them in the top-5. Still, being a top-10 pick as a tight end shows just how elite he is as a player, and at the next level, he has Pro Bowler written all over him.