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ESPN draft expert reveals NFL comparison for Michael Mayer

ns_headshot_2024-clearby: Nick Schultz02/10/23NickSchultz_7
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Michael Mayer is Notre Dame's leader in career receptions by a tight end (David Becker/Blue & Gold).

After an all-time career at Notre Dame, Michael Mayer is now set to take his talents to the NFL. He’s widely regarded as a first-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, and ESPN draft expert Matt Miller had quite the comparison for him.

Miller thinks Mayer is similar to Minnesota Vikings star T.J. Hockenson.

“Mayer is a throwback three-down tight end who can line up next to the offensive tackle and clear out in the run game or bring down passes up the seam,” Miller wrote. “At 6-4 and 265 pounds, he has elite size and uses it to produce all over the field to the tune of 67 catches, 809 yards and nine touchdowns in 2022. Mayer is a post-up, box-out red zone threat, and while he’s not expected to run a sub-4.5-second 40-yard dash, his power, agility and instincts should keep him in the top 15 picks even at a non-premium position.”

Mayer put himself in the history books as he left South Bend, ending his Notre Dame career as the program’s all-time leader in receiving yards by a tight end and touchdown receptions by a tight end. In ESPN analyst Mel Kiper’s first mock draft last month, he projected Mayer to go to the Green Bay Packers as the No. 15 overall pick. But the hype started earlier in the offseason, especially when fellow ESPN analyst Todd McShay compared Mayer to the wide receivers in this year’s class.

He thinks the former Fighting Irish star is in a class of his own.

“Some guys just look different, right?” McShay said in December. “Michael Mayer, this past year, it’s like watching a third-year veteran in the NFL playing at the college level for a year like he just got dropped in. He fits the part in terms of physically. He’s a really good blocker.

“Most importantly, his instincts and understanding and feel in the pass game, his ball skills and then after the catch, he’s a bulldozer. He’s like a mini Gronk. That was his nickname. He’ll just run over guys. He lacks elite speed, but that’s it. Outside of that, he’s a complete player. If you’re drafting a quarterback at one and then, you get an opportunity to bring in that security blanket, I would love that combination if you get Bryce Young at one and then, Michael Mayer at 12.”