NFL exec says Raiders rookie can fill role similar to Rob Gronkowski
The Las Vegas Raiders may have struck gold with one of their recent draft picks after drawing comparisons to one of the greatest of all time. Their second-round pick, was honestly a steal, as the Las Vegas Raiders were somehow able to get the best tight end in the draft after one other went in […]
The Las Vegas Raiders may have struck gold with one of their recent draft picks after drawing comparisons to one of the greatest of all time.
Their second-round pick, was honestly a steal, as the Las Vegas Raiders were somehow able to get the best tight end in the draft after one other went in the first round. It was one of their biggest needs, and maybe their biggest need on that side of the ball. Just the pick of Michael Mayer, the tight end from Notre Dame, alone gives the Raiders an A grade for their day two draft.
Obviously, they were able to follow that up with some pretty impressive picks after that, but this one caught a lot of people's eyes. With Jimmy Garoppolo coming into a new team, but an old offensive scheme he is very used to, surrounding him with weapons is very smart, and the Raiders have excelled at that part of the equation.
Sure, they have Davante Adams, the best receiver in the game, and some great options behind him in that room, but now they have a guy as a tight end that one NFL executive could be used in the same way one of the greatest tight ends of all time was used.
Mayer replaces Darren Waller, who the Raiders traded for a third-round pick that became Tucker, a receiver from Cincinnati. “I like the Raider tight end for what they do,” an exec said. “They do all that play-action stuff where they get the tight end uncovered. He doesn’t have to beat a guy. Think of all the times Gronk just ran up the seam and they threw it to him because they had great play-action. Waller could have done those things too, but he wasn’t healthy, wasn’t on the field.” -Mike Sando, The Athletic
Now, that is pretty high praise to live up to, but at the same time, you love to hear it. Also, I think that is the way the Raiders plan on trying to use Mayer, once he becomes the starter, that is.
The Raiders' offense is already going to be run and built like the Patriots of old when they were winning Super Bowl with Josh McDaniels as the head coach. I know a lot of Raiders fans hate the comparisons, but if it works, and it brings rings, why knock it?
I don't think Mayer will be as good as Gronkowski, because, well, there is only one other tight end you could argue is as good as him, and he is in the AFC West. But, I do think he could be really good, especially in an offense that will set him up to succeed.
