Notre Dame football: Michael Mayer to the Las Vegas Raiders

After a shocking first round in which he wasn’t selected, Notre Dame football star Michael Mayer has finally found a new home in Las Vegas. But, even more incredible, a tight end was drafted in the first round in Dalton Kincaid to the Buffalo Bills.

Without a shadow of a doubt, Mayer was the better of the two throughout their respective collegiate careers. Mayer is taller at 6’4″ and weighs essentially the same but is just a few pounds heavier. Wildly enough, Kincaid had the better passer throwing him the ball in his last collegiate season as Mayer was catching passes from Drew Pyne. Oh, and Sam Laporta went before him in round two, mind-blowing stuff.

Regardless, this is a massive pickup for the Raiders. Mayer is one of the best tight ends, if not the best, to come out of the Notre Dame football program, and that’s saying something. The Irish have produced current NFL tight ends Brock Wright, Kyle Rudolph, Cole Kmet, Durham Smythe, and Tommy Tremble. They’ve also had a few recently retire within the last few years, including Tyler Eifert.

In college, Mayer put up 2,099 receiving yards and a whopping 18 touchdowns while leading the team in receiving yards and touchdowns this past season. He could’ve had an even better year with elevated quarterback play and better receivers around him. Most people in the stands and on the field knew where the ball was supposed to end up if it was a pass play for the Irish.

Mayer will be a great fit for the Raiders and will absolutely be the best tight end from this draft. Obviously I’m biased but if you watch the tape, there’s zero debate about who the best is. He’ll be an able blocker and a big-time playmaker for Las Vegas. The Raiders got themselves the steal of the draft.