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The Raiders have a new-look roster heading into the 2023 season and there are quite a few positions that are up for grabs during training camp. But what position could see the biggest competition on offense this year?
In a recent article by Vic Tafur of The Athletic, he listed the most stable and unstable positions on offense for the Raiders heading into the 2023 season. One position that seems a bit unstable going into the year is the tight end position as there isn’t a clear-cut starter.
However, the expectation is that second-round pick Michael Mayer will play the majority of the snaps this year at tight end. But will he start? That is the question. Here is what Tafur had to say about the former Notre Dame tight end going into his rookie year:
It’s possible that the veteran (Austin) Hooper begins the season as the starter, but if Mayer isn’t getting most of the snaps before long, something went wrong. The Raiders will also use a bunch of two-tight-end sets, as McDaniels is more comfortable with traditional tight ends than wild-card pieces like Darren Waller.
Mayer slipped a bit in the NFL Draft because of his lack of special athleticism, but he has shown the ability to get open in tight spaces and has the hands and toughnes
As Tafur mentioned, there is a chance that Hooper starts the season with Mayer taking over that spot pretty quickly. After all, the Raiders did trade up to select Mayer in the second round, so it’s clear they view him as a long-term starter. Expect Mayer to get a lot of looks as a rookie and to be a big part of the offense.
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