The Raiders were oh so close to finishing the NFL Combine on a heater as they nearly lured Matthew Stafford away from the Rams. Ultimately, Stafford decided to stay in LA, and the Raiders will look to other free-agent QBs as they enter the new league year.
While Stafford was the talk of the town, there was another bit of interesting news that came out of Indianapolis.
According to Vic Tafur and Tashan Reed of The Athletic, the Raiders are shopping tight end Michael Mayer and are “open to other trade discussions.”
Raiders Shopping TE Michael Mayer
The former 2nd-round pick in 2023 hasn’t lived up to the hype since being drafted. In his rookie campaign, he had just 27 receptions for 304 yards and 2 touchdowns. Last year, he missed six games due to personal reasons.
While the talent is still clearly there, with the emergence of Brock Bowers, the Raiders have an opportunity to move Mayer and gain assets to address other positions of need.
The 6’4 All-American had a fantastic college career at Notre Dame. He finished his final season in 2022 with 67 catches, 809 yards, and 9 touchdowns.
Plenty of TE-needy teams out there will not have the opportunity to select one of the top tight ends in the 2025 NFL Draft, so he should have a pretty robust and active market. The key will be getting the most return while also not sending him to a two that you have to play often (both the Broncos and Chargers are desperate for a high-upside TE, but trading inter-division would not be wise).
Michael Mayer will turn 24 in July before the season starts.
Also Read: Raiders Plan At QB Revealed After Matthew Stafford Deal Falls Through