The Las Vegas Raiders spent time this week in trade calls with the Los Angeles Rams regarding quarterback Matthew Stafford. With Los Angeles keeping its star quarterback, the Raiders front office could turn its focus to engaging with teams who have reportedly called about a recent draft pick.
With a new regime taking over in 2025, Las Vegas isn’t as committed to some of the draft picks made by the previous regime. While former general manager Tom Telesco’s 2024 draft class will be sticking around, some of the talent brought in by former executives Dave Ziegler and Champ Kelly could be headed out the door.
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According to The Athletic‘s Tashan Reed and Vic Tafur, multiple NFL teams have reached out to the Raiders with interest in tight end Michael Mayer. Las Vegas is now entertaining inquiries and seems open to the possibility of moving Mayer ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft.
- Michael Mayer stats: 48 receptions, 156 receiving yards, 2 touchdowns in 25 games
Mayer, the 35th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, showed some promise in his first season. In 12 games, he saw 40 targets and turned them into 27 receptions for 304 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns, averaging 11.3 yards per reception with 19 first downs.
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However, Mayer became an afterthought in the Raiders offense after the team drafted Brock Bowers. Mayer finished his second season with just 21 receptions for 156 receiving yards, playing in only 11 games. With Bowers emerging as an All-Pro talent in his rookie season, Mayer becomes expendable.
- Michael Mayer contract (Spotrac): $2.54 million cap hit in 2025, $2.963 million cap hit in 2026
Las Vegas certainly won’t be able to recoup the second-round pick it invested in Mayer a few years ago, especially with the 2025 NFL Draft class particularly deep at tight end. However, multiple teams could be viewing him as a cost-effective starter over the next two seasons with the potential to be an above-average player who could greatly benefit from a change of scenery.
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It’s unknown what kind of compensation the Raiders would be looking for, but the fact that the team is engaging in talks suggests there’s a deal to be made this offseason. If Mayer is traded, Las Vegas could pursue a veteran tight end in NFL free agency to operate as more of an in-line blocker next season.