Michael Mayer scouting report: Regardless of upside considerations, he’s able to be your every-down tight finish

Notre Dame tight finish Michael Mayer has been lauded as a future NFL prospect since he was embarking on a season through which he was named an All-American as a real freshman in 2020. Within the midst of mentioned season, Mayer was coined the nickname “Child Gronk” as a star was born very early on for the Irish. Mayer solely grew as a participant from there ahead as he was awarded with being an All-American in back-to-back seasons (2021 and 2022). He completed off his school marketing campaign in 2022 with 809 yards on 67 receptions and 9 scores.

The “Child Gronk” nickname was at all times unfair, however Mayer has delivered as a continuing in his school profession. Mayer is ready to come back into the NFL as a participant with a really excessive ground. There’s no secret of what his function will probably be as he enters the following degree. Mayer is a pure Y tight finish by way of and thru. He’s not going to stun you with unbelievable bodily instruments, however the mix of means to maneuver our bodies within the run recreation and to be a practical move catcher makes him one of many safer tight finish choices within the 2023 NFL Draft.

Michael Mayer goes to be a coach’s greatest buddy within the NFL

It’s a cliché phrase at its base, however, within the case of Mayer, it’s so true. Mayer understands each piece of intricacy to the sport on the tight finish place. He’s a dynamic blocker with much more potential to get higher. Offensive line coaches will love him for what he’ll add as a sixth man on the finish of the road of scrimmage. Tight finish coaches will love him for the way mature he will probably be earlier than even coming into the league. Tight finish has historically been the most important studying curve positionally for prospects coming into the NFL, however Mayer is as prepared as they may come.

Mayer’s fingers are additionally excellent for the place. He performs like a bear within the trenches and within the passing recreation as he assaults and engulfs the soccer. Mayer has performed effectively in his profession to slide by defenders on his technique to stacking up the opposing defender to place them in battle as he will get into his route stem. Mayer additionally has expertise splitting out huge and having success as a receiver profitable in contested conditions and making himself an possibility towards zone protection — somewhat bit extra versatility than chances are you’ll suppose at first look.

The questions on Michael Mayer’s upside are a good recreation

For the entire constructive discuss Mayer’s soccer IQ and polish popping out of faculty, there stays some query about his athleticism and upside as a receiving possibility. No one will confuse Mayer as a unicorn sort of an athlete like Kyle Pitts or an insane physique sort the likes of a Darnell Washington on this class. Mayer’s dimension and athleticism are simply, effectively, common. He does have manufacturing you wish to see from a receiving standpoint, nevertheless it’s clear on tape that Mayer pinballs somewhat than actually making performs with the ball in his fingers. He additionally has to work extraordinarily exhausting to create any separation towards true man-to-man or match protection due to some heaviness to his toes when he has to immediately change instructions. All of those elements will drive questions on what sort of manufacturing he can have as a receiver within the NFL.

Mayer nonetheless has work to do as a run blocker, as effectively, persevering with to shine his hand strikes into defenders as an alternative of simply throwing his physique on some reps. His upside as a blocker is thru the roof, nevertheless it’s not all the best way there simply but. The blocking tape towards Clemson (elite) versus the blocking tape towards Ohio State (beneath common) present the stark mix he can have from a consistency standpoint at this stage.

How Michael Mayer measures up

As talked about earlier, Mayer has a mean profile from an athletic standpoint on tape and that profile matched up pretty effectively together with his on-field exercises on the NFL Mix in March and at Notre Dame’s Professional Day.

• 40-yard sprint: 4.70 seconds
• Broad Bounce: 9’10
• Vertical Bounce: 32.5”
• 20-yard shuttle (Professional Day): 4.44 seconds
• 3-Cone Drill (Professional Day): 7.26 seconds

What others are saying about Michael Mayer

The Athletic’s Nate Tice had this to say about Mayer:

Mayer won’t have the athletic instruments and size to make him a high-end mismatch nightmare, however he will probably be a quarterback’s greatest buddy as a flexible auxiliary weapon and supply profitable snaps as a blocker.

NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein supplied his ideas about Mayer as effectively:

Mayer would possibly want to shine his route operating to turn out to be a high-volume goal, however he’s a protected choose and will probably be an excellent professional who can turn out to be a plus participant as a run blocker and move catcher.

Michael Mayer has a really excessive ground and may very well be one of many few tight finish prospects that may contribute to a workforce at an above common degree instantly. Some questions with Mayer nonetheless linger on account of some lingering athletic questions along with some dangerous quarterback play that restricted his manufacturing to an extent his ultimate yr in school. A workforce goes to sleep soundly at night time in the event that they choose Mayer center to late first spherical within the 2023 Draft.