Out of the blue, before the 2026 NFL season opener, the Las Vegas Raiders made Michael Mayer the fourth-highest-paid tight end in the NFL based on average annual salary, with a three-year, $45 million contract extension that includes $30 million in guaranteed money.
Mayer has had a disappointing statistical start to his career, with fewer than total 800 receiving yards over his first three seasons. This invited plenty of criticism of the move to make him a top-five-paid tight end in the league. That was a lazy way to look at this deal and Mayer's impact, though.
Klint Kubiak clearly has a vision for using him and Brock Bowers together, with Mayer as a traditional in-line tight end and Bowers deployed as a wide receiver-like weapon in the slot or out wide. Bowers is inching closer to an even bigger extension than Mayer got, as the market at tight end is rising.
Perhaps time will look back fondly on this deal. And with Bowers' knee injury, Mayer was the clear-cut No. 1 tight end for the Raiders in Week 1 against the Miami Dolphins. With that, an immediate test of the contract investment would come. Luckily, Mayer took the first step in proving himself worthy.
Michael Mayer took nice first step to prove Las Vegas Raiders right for investing in him
Mayer tied for the team lead on Sunday with six catches against the Dolphins, albeit for just 32 yards. But Kirk Cousins averaged a mild 7.6 air yards per attempt and 4.1 air yards per completion for the game, according to Next Gen Stats. It's not like the aerial attack was firing on all cylinders.
Three of Mayer's grabs went for 21 yards on the Raiders' first offensive drive, as Cousins went 9-for-9 during that series. As Miami adjusted, Cousins and Las Vegas couldn't reliably get the ball to Mayer as the contest continued. But he was a big part of getting things established in Week 1.
It might have been nice to have Mayer get more than three catches for 11 yards on four targets on Cousins' final 21 pass attempts, but that's how the cookie crumbles sometimes. And Mayer made several nice moves after the catch and converted on several first downs to maximize his touches.
Mayer has garnered praise, backed up by data, for his blocking during his career with the Raiders as well. That continued in Week 1, with the second-best run-blocking grade on the team (74.1), via Pro Football Focus. For a team leaning on its ground game, that is a huge part of what Mayer brings.
"We're really proud to have Mike [Mayer] and have him back for a long time. When you get awarded a second contract as a draft pick in an organization, that's a big deal, and he's very deserving of that," Kubiak said after the game. "He's been a guy that's been extremely physical throughout camp. Doesn't miss practice, accountable and sets a standard, and that's just what we come to expect from him."
While Mayer will never be on Bowers' level as a sheer field-tilting talent in the pass game, the skill set that had him regarded by some as the best tight end in the 2023 NFL Draft class has surely not gone away. And it flashes practically every time he gets the ball in his hands.
The season opener gave a glimpse of how he can fully own his role in a functioning Raiders offense, and it was a perfect first step in proving himself worthy of a notable contract extension. Now, just imagine what Mayer can do with a healthy Bowers alongside him to take the bulk of the attention.
And a young Fernando Mendoza being tasked with getting him the ball.
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