The Las Vegas Raiders selected Brock Bowers with the No. 13 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. While he was not necessarily a need for the team, he was certainly a luxury, as the Raiders' rookie tight end was a First-Team All-Pro and a Pro Bowler in 2024.
Ultimately, however, his success was not enough to overcome a poor quarterback situation and the complete absence of a run game. The Silver and Black won just four games last year and needed to make several changes ahead of the 2025 season.
New general manager John Spytek reportedly tested the waters on Michael Mayer's trade value earlier this offseason, as the third-year tight end was thought by some to be expendable after Bowers' rookie campaign.
This sentiment was exacerbated by various reports linking Mayer to the Miami Dolphins after they traded away starting tight end Jonnu Smith on Monday. However, the Las Vegas Review-Journal's Vincent Bonsignore put a stop to these rumors.
"The @Raiders have no interest in trading Michael Mayer," Bonsignore wrote.
Mayer has certainly got off to a rough start in his NFL career, but the 2023 second-round pick has plenty of untapped potential. With a strong play-caller in Chip Kelly, he should see an increase in production.
Through two seasons, he has caught just 48 passes for 480 yards and two touchdowns, but new Raiders quarterback Geno Smith will be the best signal-caller he has played with in the NFL.
Miami also traded for former Raiders and Giants tight end Darren Waller on Tuesday, filling their void in the starting lineup. This, combined with Bonsignore's report, paints an incredibly unlikely scenario where Mayer ends up in Miami.
