Cowboys' draft target draws comparison to franchise's future Hall of Famer
May I interest you in a player who's drawn comparisons to Dallas Cowboys legend and future Hall of Famer Jason Witten? That's what the Cowboys must get with the 26th overall pick if they end up drafting tight end Michael Mayer from Notre Dame. At least that's what Michael Renner from Pro Football Focus thinks. […]
May I interest you in a player who's drawn comparisons to Dallas Cowboys legend and future Hall of Famer Jason Witten?
That's what the Cowboys must get with the 26th overall pick if they end up drafting tight end Michael Mayer from Notre Dame. At least that's what Michael Renner from Pro Football Focus thinks.
In a recent article, he compared eight 2023 NFL Draft prospects with current and former players. In it, he lists Mayer-Witten as one of his favorite player comps.
Here's why Renner dares make the ambitious comparison between the two players:
A brute in the run game who can make a living giving linebackers a slight shove to create a yard of separation on a quick out is what you’re getting in Mayer, and it's what Witten made a living on. They both even have a shuffly running style where they don’t quite pick their legs up.
Witten may have never been like the new wave of tight ends that more closely resembles wide receivers, but he consistently hauled in 80-plus balls and racked up 900-plus yards a season in his prime. You take that in Round 1.
– Michael Renner, PFF.com
Renner makes a compelling argument. As you might've heard by now, Mayer is TE1 for many since he's the most-rounded-out prospect at the position. While Dalton Kincaid (Utah) might be the better receiver and Darnell Washington (Georgia) might have the freakish traits, Mayer seems to be the safest bet.
He's a good blocker and that's expected to be valued by many NFL front offices. That likely includes the Cowboys, who will be running Mike McCarthy's west coast offense next season. I'm willing to bet the head coach would love a tight end who can block.
But that doesn't mean Mayer can catch. You don't become one of the most productive tight ends season after season while playing in Notre Dame just by mere chance.
Mayer averaged 825 receiving yards and eight touchdowns per year over his last two seasons playing college ball.
Recently, ESPN's Todd McShay mocked Mayer to the Cowboys in the first round. If he's there, he'll definitely be one of the team's favorite prospects.
