The San Francisco 49ers didn’t come into play in the first round of this year’s NFL Draft. In fact, the defending NFC West champion isn’t expected to make his first pick until he’s 99th overall at the end of Round 3.
There’s a reason for that. General manager John Lynch and company spent a huge capital picking up quarterback Trey Lance in the 2021 NFL draft. San Francisco then sent multiple picks to the Carolina Panthers for star running back Christian McCaffrey in the 2022 season.
In hindsight, we can question the Lance trade as many times as we like. The young signal caller is actually standing on the trading block. With that in mind, the McCaffrey acquisition was an absolute home run.
San Francisco has 10 picks left in the 2023 NFL draft. With a full roster, the team is unlikely to pick that many players.
Instead, the 49ers should target specific players in potential trade-up scenarios. We’re here to say that one player, former Notre Dame star Michael Mayer, should be that target.
Mayer, a predicted first-round pick going into the draft, is still on the board and entering Day 2 on Friday. He was considered the consensus No. 1 tight end in one of the best drafts at that position in modern times NFL Draft History. Mayer has had a record-breaking campaign for the Irish and should be viewed as a future Pro Bowler.
Here’s why San Francisco should make a bold move for Mayer once round two kicks off in Kansas City later Friday.
Related: The top NFL draft prospects remaining on Day 2
The San Francisco 49ers are associated with tight ends more than any other team
John Mersits/USA TODAY NETWORK
San Francisco drew a whopping 11 tight ends ahead of the 2023 NFL Draft. Reports have since shown that the team has done more homework at that position than at any other in the league.
Although Michael Mayer was not one of those visits, there is a simple explanation. As noted above, the 49ers are not scheduled to make their first pick until the end of Round 3. Mayer should be long gone by this point.
San Francisco doesn’t want to replace All-Pro tight end George Kittle. Rather, the team wants to find another pass catcher in this position who can help out behind him and work in two tight end sets. Last season, the backup 49ers tight ends had a total of seven catches. It just won’t work.
See also: 2023 NFL Mock Draft Day 2 Edition
Michael Mayer as fit for the San Francisco 49ers
Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
It’s easy. Just check out this former Notre Dame standout scouting report by NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein:
“Tall tight-ended combo with the behavior to block runs and the size for hard, chain-moving catches underneath. Mayer will come into the league with better blocking technique than most tight ends in this year’s draft.
Built for liner service, it was at times an extension of Notre Dame’s offensive line. His feet are a little heavy for getting in and through his routes, but he has the hand strength and contact balance to win hard-fought catches on the first two levels.”
Scouting report by Michael Mayer
A blocking tight end that can move the sticks and acts as an extension of the offensive line. This is almost a copy of what Kittle did during his brilliant career in Northern California.
At 6-foot-5 and with strong hands, Mayer will be able to get in right away while making a big impact on the running game. In two tight-end sets, he would cause major mismatches on the field with Kittle. This is especially true given San Francisco’s talent in the elite skill position in McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk.
See also: San Francisco 49ers 2023 NFL Mock Draft
The cost of acquiring Michael Mayer in one trade
Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
This is where it gets tricky. Mayer is among the best players remaining on the board in Round 2. Should he get into the top half of the second round, it would be a damn expensive proposition for the 49ers. That includes two third-round picks in the 2023 NFL Draft and potentially their second-round picks next year.
Another decline in the second round would make this more manageable. Either way, the cost won’t be cheap.
The good news? San Francisco is expected to get some third-round picks in the 2024 NFL draft under the NFL’s minority hiring program and the Rooney Rule. That makes it easier for the San Francisco 49ers to part with a second-round pick in next year’s NFL draft to find an absolutely perfect fit.
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