Game Film Reveals Concerns About Michael Mayer?

First Round Mock NFL Draft Analyst Ken Becks looked at the game film and sees somethings that could be an issue for Notre Dame’s Michael Mayer.

#87 Michael Mayer

POSITION: Tight End (TE)
SCHOOL: Notre Dame
HEIGHT: 6-4
WEIGHT: 265

Evaluated Games:

Ohio State ’22

CAL ’22

North Carolina ’22

USC ’22

Strengths

Projecting to the NFL – – Mayer possesses good size with a sturdy athletic build to his frame.

He is also showing better-than-average speed for the position of tight-end.

Mayer’s quickness off the snap is apparent on game film as he makes his way downfield.

The fact his coaching staff routinely deploys him split out as a wide receiver should also give you an indication of how they see his athletic traits and skill set.

Cheat code alert

Mayer’s route running is a cheat code

What do I mean by that?

Mayer excels becoming a target for his quarterback finding openings underneath and into the intermediate route levels.

I can’t state this enough, I feel his consistent ability to make his way downfield in the passing game and convert that ability into production is really being overlooked!

Mayer has an uncanny ability for a player his size to make subtle and effective moves at the top of his stem (in-route), to create separation and throwing windows allowing for those downfield catches.

In tight coverage, he displays excellent hand technique and body control thwarting off defenders, which helps him also create that aforementioned needed separation.

His hands – – this leads us into talking about his hands. Oh those wonderful hands. Mayer demonstrates an excellent pair of hands and the consistent ability to catch passes away from his body with an above-average catch radius.

Mayer is very effective making grabs in high-traffic areas while showing and maintaining laser-tight focus.

While run blocking, he displayed good foundational positioning and the willingness to initiate first contact with opponents. The bottom line is he shows effort blocking and he shows he wants to do it. While technique can always be taught and sharpened, the want has to be there and it is with Mayer.

Weaknesses

When envisioning what Mayer will look like in the NFL, I don’t see his ability to get behind secondaries with the same rate of consistency as he has showed at the collegiate level

While I did state he has an above-average catch radius, I never said it was great. At times, he showed difficulty reaching for passes thrown toward the lower half of his body.

I would also like to see additional yardage being gained more consistently after contact. This would would have helped to propel his draft value and true value to whatever team selects him.

Too often, Mayer seems to lose his footing after making catches, which greatly reduces potential explosive play possibilities.

While he is willing to block, there needs to be longer sustain as well.

2023 NFL Draft Prospect Value

Second Round (Mid)

Scouting Report Summary

Mayer has the size and baseline plus talents to become a potential Pro Bowl type of tight end if he is drafted to a team that highlights the tight end position. Everyone that will be a Pro Bowler won’t be selected in the first-round. He’s not a sure fire Pro Bowl type to me.

The team that drafts him will play a major role in Mayer’s level of success in the NFL

Ken Becks [TheScout] has been covering & scouting NFL prospects for over 30 years! Ken has worked with the Indoor Football Scouting Bureau and he’s been mentioned in publications such as Scout.com, ABCNews.com, and TheNewsStar.com. He covers the NFL Draft for FirstRoundMock.com and he is the founder and Director of 1stDownScouting.com. Follow him @1stdown_scout on Twitter.