The Las Vegas Raiders could move on from Michael Mayer this offseason, as Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported on Mar. 3 that multiple sources told him that the team is trying to trade the young tight end and plenty of teams are interested.
Mayer showed some promise during his rookie campaign in 2023, hauling in 27 receptions for 304 yards and two touchdowns. He seemed destined to be Las Vegas’ long-term answer at tight end before the franchise used their 2024 first-round selection on Brock Bowers. The former Georgia standout had an All-Pro rookie season in 2024 and is already one of the best tight ends in football.
Additionally, Mayer missed six games last year due to personal issues, but even when he was on the field, he was overshadowed by Bowers.
Trading Mayer would be a great move for both sides, as the Raiders don’t need him due to Bowers’ rise and could gain some draft capital, while Mayer could use a fresh start elsewhere.
As Bonsignore stated, multiple teams are interested in trading for the former Notre Dame standout, and IndyStar’s Nate Atkins proposes a trade that would send Mayer to the Indianapolis Colts.
Atkins’ hypothetical trade package has the Colts sending cornerback JuJu Brents and a 2025 third-round pick to the Raiders for Mayer.
If the Colts want to trade for a younger tight end, Michael Mayer should be on the radar. He’s reportedly generating lots of interest as a new Raiders front office looks to split up the overlap between him and Brock Bowers. Mayer’s market is hard to judge up against this year’s tight end class, but his age and blocking ability are intriguing.
The Raiders have plenty of needs as they enter a rebuild under Pete Carroll, but cornerback is at the top. Carroll is the architect of the Seattle-style defense JuJu Brents was initially drafted for as a hulking outside cornerback.
This is an intriguing trade for both sides. For the Raiders, trading Mayer for a Day 2 pick and a starting-caliber player would be a fantastic move by general manager John Spytek. Though Brents has missed 23 games in his first two seasons, the 25-year-old is still a developing player who could serve as a starter on Las Vegas’ defense.
Obviously, a franchise trying to build a foundation like the Raiders needs all the draft capital they can get, and an extra Round 3 pick would be incredibly beneficial.
Though Mayer has a ton of potential, this trade doesn’t make much sense for Indianapolis. The Colts need more from the tight end position, but giving up a third-round pick and a potential starter in Brents for a pass-catcher who hasn’t put together one consistent season would be completely foolish from general manager Chris Ballard.
Overall, the likelihood of this deal happening is incredibly slim, but it would be excellent for Las Vegas.
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