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Raiders In-Line Tight End Is Starring In His Role
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- Raiders In-Line Tight End Is Starring In His Role
(IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
The Las Vegas Raiders are getting increasingly bigger contributions from tight end Michael Mayer, and he's clearly finding another gear. He's been signed to an extension, and he's starting to fulfill the potential the Raiders saw in him back when the drafted him in the second round in 2023.
Mayer has already used his size and strength to overpower defenders, and this started in the full contact practice of the year. New linebacker Nakobe Dean went to punch the ball out, and his punch-out attempt landed on Mayer's nose as it went through his face mask. Mayer sustained a broken nose, but he was back on the field the next day, according to Sam Warren of The Athletic.
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Fast forward from there, and Mayer is tied for the team lead in receptions with 28, and he's third in receiving yardage with 266. Those are both career highs, and it's the result of hard work, according to tight end coach Luke Steckel.
The Raiders saw Mayer's value, and they've signed him to a three-year, $45 million contract extension. Mayer is rewarding the team for its investment, which Warren said makes him the fourth highest-paid tight end by yearly salary.
The tight end actually loves being in Las Vegas with the Raiders, which is hard to believe given how bad the team has been for a couple of years. Mayer had one year cut short by a toe injury, and the constant turnover impeded his development, not to mention the drafting and signing of fellow tight end Brock Bowers.
There was also the Pete Carroll era, but now the Raiders have hired Klint Kubiak, who believes that his use of heavy personnel could help make Mayer an impact player again, per Warren. He's also playing for a new quarterback in Kirk Cousins, who noticed Mayer's "good feel" for the position, and using Mayer has also helped unlock Bowers.
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Mayer is also playing the majority of the team's snaps as the in-line tight end, which means Bowers can be split out to create mismatches. Steckel said the skill set has always been there, and that success has helped restrore what the writer called Mayer's "joy" on the field.
Mayer also has what receiver Tre Tucker called a "good swagger" about him when he makes a play, which is something we haven't seen a lot of. He's proud of having earned a second contract, and like the rest of the Raiders and the fan base, the tight end is hoping that both his and the team's success will continue going forward.
