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Three Notre Dame players appear in The Athletic seven-round mock draft

On3 imageby: Patrick Engel04/19/23PatrickEngel_
mayer (15)
Notre Dame tight end Michael Mayer (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)

A common landing spot for Notre Dame tight end Michael Mayer in recent mock drafts has been the Dallas Cowboys at pick No. 26. ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper Jr.’s most recent mock had him going there. As did Pro Football Focus analyst Mike Renner’s latest. Same with NFL Network’s Charles Davis’ last mock.

The latest to join the Mayer-to-Dallas parade is The Athletic draft analyst Dane Brugler, who pegged the Irish tight end to the Cowboys with some conviction in his seven-round mock draft that came out Monday.

“As one plugged-in league source told me about Mayer and the Cowboys: ‘I just can’t see Dallas passing,’” Brugler wrote.

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The fit makes sense. Dalton Schultz, the Cowboys 2022 starting tight end and second-leading receiver, signed with the Houston Texans in free agency. They have been a tight end-friendly offense in recent years – the position has combined to catch at least 75 passes in five straight seasons. Schultz had three straight years of at least 63 catches. Dallas also ranked sixth in rushing attempts last year and frequently uses its tight ends as blockers.

“The Cowboys are looking for a tight end who can hold his own as a blocker but also move the sticks as a receiving threat,” Brugler wrote. “If Mayer makes it this far, it’s a good bet he will have a star on his helmet.”

Mayer was the first of three Notre Dame players to appear in Brugler’s mock of all 259 picks. Defensive end Isaiah Foskey went in the third round at No. 77 overall to the New Orleans Saints. Offensive lineman Jarrett Patterson was a sixth-round pick (No. 186) to the Tennessee Titans.

Mayer was the second tight end taken, behind Utah’s Dalton Kincaid (No. 21 overall). Brugler’s own rankings in his 2023 Draft Guide, though, have Mayer as the top tight end and the No. 18 overall player. Foskey was the 12th EDGE selected in the mock.

Not among the seven rounds was safety Brandon Joseph. Twenty safeties were in Brugler’s mock, all told. Joseph was not one of them. Brugler compiles his seven-round mock with the goal of projecting what will happen and predicting the range for players based on conversations with NFL personnel. Brugler gave Joseph a sixth- or seventh-round grade in his own rankings.

“Overall, Joseph works well from his centerfield perch to read and put himself in position to make plays, but his lack of explosive traits and inconsistent technique will be more noticeable versus NFL competition,” Brugler wrote in his draft guide. “He projects as a potential backup and special-teamer.”

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