The Las Vegas Raiders raised a lot of eyebrows when they handed Michael Mayer a hefty contract extension one day before the 2026 NFL season. And while the finer details of the deal insulated the team a bit, many had a hard time justifying that kind of money for Mayer.
After all, at the time that the contract was inked, Mayer had just 83 catches for 788 yards and three touchdowns on his NFL résumé across three seasons, which doesn't typically net a $45 million pact. And for that reason, many people doubted the Raiders, and questioned if Mayer could live up to it.
But Las Vegas knew exactly what it was going to get from the young tight end. Six games into his first campaign under a new blanket of financial security, Mayer has not only proven his naysayers wrong, but he is comfortably among the very best players at his position in the league.
Money well spent.
Michael Mayer is proving Raiders right for big contract extension
A quick glance at his production gives folks an idea of just how well he is performing: Mayer already has 28 catches for 266 yards and a touchdown this season. He is tied for the team lead in catches and third in receiving yards while garnering the fourth-most targets.
For reference, the best year of his career was 2025, when he caught 35 balls for 328 yards and a touchdown. Mayer is on pace for 79 catches, 753 yards and 2.8 touchdowns, which would shatter his personal bests. That's effectively the production he had in his first three pro seasons combined.
Outside of the stat sheet, though, Mayer is also run-blocking well and opening things up for others. The fact that he is a legitimate threat in the flat and underneath, occasionally up the seam as well, has given players like Brock Bowers and Tre Tucker more room to operate and make plays.
His ability to get open and block from inline has also allowed Bowers to play out wide at a rate never seen before, which has helped keep the passing attack humming without a No. 1 wide receiver. Mayer is an integral part of the offense's production and scheme, so it's no wonder that they have improved.
Mayer isn't just good by Las Vegas' standards, though.
Las Vegas' Michael Mayer is comfortably a top-10 tight end in the NFL
The good people of Raider Nation have been defending Brock Bowers as the No. 1 tight end in the NFL practically since his arrival in Las Vegas. And they are right to do so. But Mayer has quietly crept up, not quite into that conversation, but into discussions about who the 10 best are in the league.
And right now, you'd be a fool to leave out Mayer.
Stat | Michael Mayer's Rank among NFL TE |
|---|---|
Receptions | T-5th |
Receiving Yards | 10th |
Targets | 10th |
YAC | 2nd (18th among all positions) |
PFF Run-Blocking Grade | 11th |
Based on his production alone, it is hard to argue that Mayer shouldn't be in talks about the top 10 tight ends that the NFL has to offer. And when one considers his all-around skill set, meaning his ability to block, Mayer is a lock. Plus, he's the fourth option on his offense, and he's still doing this.
When the pen hit paper, Raider Nation was nervous that Mayer wouldn't be worth his contract. But if these first six games are any indication of what is to come, then maybe the fear should be Mayer asking for another raise in the coming offseasons as he outperforms his contractual value.
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