We’re counting down the days until the NFL draft as we hope to hear Notre Dame tight end Michael Mayer have his name called during the first round. If he does, he’ll become the first Notre Dame tight end to go in the first round since Tyler Eifert was drafted by the Bengals in 2013.
Mel Kiper, Jr. has his latest mock draft out and was on ESPN’s “First Take” to discuss it on Tuesday. Kiper has Mayer going 26th overall to the Cowboys after Dallas lost Dalton Schultz to the Texans in free agency. Here is what Kiper had to say about Mayer and America’s Team:
“He’s a throwback to the 70s, 80s, 90s, he can block in-line,” Kiper said on First Take, “he lumbers a bit but you talk about the hands, he’s had focus drops, overall though, he’s been there since his freshman year, putting up big numbers. I think we over-analyze players that have been there since day one… He’s traditional, he’s throwback, he’s a blood and guts football player.
“For them (Dallas), blocking is important, running the football is important. You can’t bring in a Luke Musgrave, or a Dalton Kincaid, and get that blocking ability. Darnell Washington as well could be an in-line guy, but Mayer’s just a little bit better in that area right now. For the complete tight end, the best fit I think is Michael Mayer.”
Mayer set pretty much every possible record for tight ends at Notre Dame in just three seasons. The 2023 NFL draft takes place in Kansas City this year, starting the evening of April 27 and lasting three days.
[lawrence-related id=70349,70347,70266,70065]