The Minnesota Vikings added a few new tight ends last week, drafting Pittsburgh’s Gavin Bartholomew in Round 6 and signing undrafted free agents Ben Yurosek (Georgia) and Bryson Nesbit (North Carolina).
Vikings Should Call Raiders about a Trade
Per quantity, that’s fine and dandy. The Vikings should be set at tight end.
But what about improving at the position and making it borderline unstoppable? That’s why general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah should entertain a deal for Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer.
Vikings Should Consider a Deal for TE Michael Mayer
The Raiders spent 2nd-Round pick on Mayer two years ago — pick No. 35 in that draft, so near the top of Round 2 — and they just don’t use him on offense. The guy is a footnote.
Dec 8, 2024; Tampa, Florida, USA; Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Jakobi Meyers (16) and tight end M. Mayer (87) celebrate after a play against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the first quarter at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
Why? One year after onboarding Mayer, Las Vegas used a 1st-Rounder on another tight end, Brock Bowers from Georgia. Of course, the Bowers draft pick was more than worth it — he arguably produced the best rookie TE season in NFL history.
But that doesn’t mean Mayer was used or that he’s an asset on the Raiders’ roster. He’s actually a bit of a waste.
Various [terrible] Raiders quarterbacks have targeted Mayer 72 times in two seasons, or less than thrice per game. An early-2nd-Round tight end should receive nearly 6 targets per game. That’s why a team invests a 2nd-Rounder in a position that can often be filled in later rounds.
The Raiders don’t do that. They throw the rock to Bowers, who is incredible. Through 25 career games, Mayer averages 18 receiving yards per game.
Adofo-Mensah should send a 5th-Round pick or so to Las Vegas for Mayer.
Mayer on the Trade Block per The Athletic
In late February, The Athletic‘s Vic Tafur and Tashan Reed published an article detailing Mayer’s trade availability.
The pair explained: “The Raiders have had discussions with teams who have interest in tight end Michael Mayer, according to league sources. Mayer hasn’t had the impact the Raiders hoped for when he was drafted in the second round in 2023. He had just 27 catches for 304 yards and two touchdowns in 14 games as a rookie. He missed six games due to personal reasons in 2024 and was delegated to a marginal role due to the ascent of tight end Brock Bowers, who was named a first-team All-Pro.”
“Mayer will be on a team-friendly rookie contract for two more seasons and there are several teams who thought highly of him as a prospect. With Bowers in tow, it could make more sense for the Raiders to trade Mayer for assets rather than having him locked into a relatively small role.”
Oct 15, 2023; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders tight end M. Mayer (87) celebrates a first down with running back Ameer Abdullah (22) against the New England Patriots in the first quarter at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Candice Ward-USA TODAY Sports
Meanwhile, Raiders fans aren’t in a hurry to lose Mayer — which should indicate to the general public that he’s a lovable asset.
Silver and Black Pride‘s Bill Williamson wrote earlier this month: “Hey, Las Vegas Raiders’ brass, fans have spoken. Don’t trade Michael Mayer. We recently asked our community members if they think the Raiders should trade the third-yes tight end now that they signed fellow backup tight end Ian Thomas, who spent all seven of his NFL seasons with the Carolina Panthers as a backup to star Brock Bowers.”
“There have been media reports that the new Raiders’ regime is open to trading Mayer, who the team traded up to draft with the No. 35 overall pick in 2023. However, our readers don’t want to give up on Mayer, who missed six games due to a personal reason last season and who hasn’t been as productive as the team hoped in his first two NFL seasons.”
Mayer will turn 24 in July. He’s still quite young.
But the Vikings Have T.J. Hockenson, Right?
Indeed, Minnesota has T.J. Hockenson attached to the books for the next three seasons. He’s not chomping at the bit to leave.
However, his guaranteed money runs out at the end of the 2025 campaign, and in reality, every NFL contract is basically a two-year deal. The veteran tight end could ask for a new deal at this time next year, assuming his 2025 season is fruitful.
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Hockenson also tore his ACL in December 2023, battling back valiantly to rejoin the club next December.
Trading a late-rounder for Mayer would ensure youth in the pipeline in case Hockenson fell injured again or wanted off the team after 2025.
Josh Oliver at TE2
After Hockenson on the depth, Josh Oliver is the primary option. His contract actually expires after the 2025 campaign, and Minnesota has been in no rush to extend him.
Nov 26, 2022; Los Angeles, California, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish tight end M. Mayer (87) celebrates his touchdown scored against the Southern California Trojans with wide receiver Braden Lenzy (0) during the first half at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
If one assumes that Oliver leaves during 2025 free agency, it might be pretty nifty to pivot toward Mayer on the depth chart as TE2 — or TE1 in a pinch.
Mayer, emphatically, has the talent for a TE1 job. Again, it’s getting wasted in Las Vegas because of Mr. Bowers.
Slim Options Beyond TE1 and TE2
Beyond Hockenson and Oliver, Minnesota employs lottery tickets in the aforementioned Bartholomew, Yurosek, and Nesbit.
Jan 5, 2025; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders tight end M. Mayer (87) carries the ball against the Los Angeles Chargers in the second half at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Mayer’s skill set would blow those men out of the water, and if Adofo-Mensah can snag him from Las Vegas for menial draft capital, why not?