2023 NFL Draft Thread - Round 1 Thursday 7:00 PM

[Matches Malone]

Willing it into existence.

[ReasonablySober]

Feldman's mock:

15. Green Bay Packers: Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame
If the Pack want to give Jordan Love as much chance as possible to hit the ground running, upgrading at tight end will go a long way. The hunch here is they go for Mayer, at 6 feet 4 1/2, 249 pounds, over Utah’s Dalton Kincaid, because Mayer is the more complete player. He gets picked over Georgia’s freaky Darnell Washington because he’s more polished and consistent. Mayer caught 67 passes for 809 yards and nine TDs for an Irish team lacking in playmakers outside and with underwhelming QB play. Mayer isn’t as dynamic as Kincaid athletically, but he ran a solid 4.7 40.

The Coaching Intel

“We came up with a coverage to double him. Their QB would look for him specifically and (Mayer) would still beat us. I think he’s a real guy. He is an elite receiving tight end.”

“He’s not elite at any one thing but he’s really, really good at all of it. Actually, I take that back — his ball skills are elite. He is intelligent and a tough human being. He’s everything that you’re looking for. Even though he doesn’t run away from people, he understands how to use his body, understands spacing. He just knows how to get open.”

“On tape, he reminded me of (Georgia tight end) Brock Bowers. He has great ball skills, but also is physical in the run game. He plays faster than he times and is really fluid.”

“He’s a unique matchup. There’re quality tight ends and you kinda put them in the wide receiver category. The difference with him was he does everything, and does everything well. He’s a presence when he’s in-line (as a blocker). You can’t have a linebacker responsible for him, and the struggle is in zones, that linebacker just doesn’t have to try and cover him, he also has to tackle him. He’s a matchup issue.”

[Matches Malone]

“On tape, he reminded me of (Georgia tight end) Brock Bowers. He has great ball skills, but also is physical in the run game. He plays faster than he times and is really fluid.”

I kind of question this scout a bit on this. Not to say Mayer doesn't have athletic ability, but Bowers is much more athletic and fluid/sudden in his movements. Mayer looks more like a slab of concrete coming at you. I'd probably have Bowers as my TE1 if he was in this draft.

[ReasonablySober]

“On tape, he reminded me of (Georgia tight end) Brock Bowers. He has great ball skills, but also is physical in the run game. He plays faster than he times and is really fluid.”

I kind of question this scout a bit on this. Not to say Mayer doesn't have athletic ability, but Bowers is much more athletic and fluid/sudden in his movements. Mayer looks more like a slab of concrete coming at you. I'd probably have Bowers as my TE1 if he was in this draft.

I'd have no problem taking Bowers #1 in this draft. Next year he'll definitely be in my top five.

But I think Mayer has been underrated on this board (and maybe just in general). He can move, especially once he gets a head of steam. I think he's a Pro Bowler in year one type of guy.

[TroyD92]

jsn feels like the perfect fit to me. I'd be fine with im at 13/15. Also okay with trading down to backend of the first and pick up another 2nd or whatever.

[Matches Malone]

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[ReasonablySober]

So assuming 15, what’re your lists of guys you’d be stoked with and guys you’d be disappointed in?

Stoked:
Kincaid
JSN
Hyatt
Van Ness
Murphy
Gonzalez

Disappointed:
Any OL
Addison
Mayer
Bresee
Branch or any other safety

I could be talked into just about anyone else outside of obvious reaches or positions of little to no need.

Would be cool:

1 - Witherspoon
2 - Johnston
3 - Kincaid
4 - Nolan Smith
5 - JSN
6 - Bijan
7 - Mayer
8 - Drew Sanders
9 - Gonzales
10 - Skoronski

Eh.

1 - Branch
2 - Banks
3 - Harrison
4 - Jones
5 - Hyatt

[ReasonablySober]

Part of me wants to rank Sanders higher. Much higher. I think he's got the frame and upside to be Clay Matthews Jr like.

[stillgotgame]

Michael Mayer vs Jace Sternberger

40 yard dash: 4.70 vs 4.75
10 yard split: 1.66 vs 1.67
Vertical: 32.5" vs 31.5"
Height/weight: 6'4 1/2" 249 vs 6'4" 251
Arm length: 31 5/8" vs 32 1/8"
Hand size: 9 1/2" vs 9 3/4"

Both had about 800 yards receiving and 9/10 TDs receiving their last year.

Just say no.

[MVP2110]

Stoked: Van Ness, JSN, Q. Johnson, Paris Johnson, Skoronski

Disappointed: Kincaid, Bijan, Branch

I don't want a round 1 tight end but if we take one give me Washington or Mayer

Fine with: Basically anyone else around our pick we've been linked too

[ReasonablySober]

Michael Mayer vs Jace Sternberger

40 yard dash: 4.70 vs 4.75
10 yard split: 1.66 vs 1.67
Vertical: 32.5" vs 31.5"
Height/weight: 6'4 1/2" 249 vs 6'4" 251
Arm length: 31 5/8" vs 32 1/8"
Hand size: 9 1/2" vs 9 3/4"

Both had about 800 yards receiving and 9/10 TDs receiving their last year.

Just say no.

Sternberger didn't bust because he didn't have the size or the athleticism though.

[Finn]

Michael Mayer vs Jace Sternberger

40 yard dash: 4.70 vs 4.75
10 yard split: 1.66 vs 1.67
Vertical: 32.5" vs 31.5"
Height/weight: 6'4 1/2" 249 vs 6'4" 251
Arm length: 31 5/8" vs 32 1/8"
Hand size: 9 1/2" vs 9 3/4"

Both had about 800 yards receiving and 9/10 TDs receiving their last year.

Just say no.

That's a hell of way to scout. Bravo!

[stillgotgame]

Michael Mayer vs Jace Sternberger

40 yard dash: 4.70 vs 4.75
10 yard split: 1.66 vs 1.67
Vertical: 32.5" vs 31.5"
Height/weight: 6'4 1/2" 249 vs 6'4" 251
Arm length: 31 5/8" vs 32 1/8"
Hand size: 9 1/2" vs 9 3/4"

Both had about 800 yards receiving and 9/10 TDs receiving their last year.

Just say no.

Sternberger didn't bust because he didn't have the size or the athleticism though.

In the 1st round no way we should take an average athlete at TE. Mayer is a nice player, be happy with him in the 2nd. Kind of like drafting AJ Hawk.

[Matches Malone]

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[LUKE23]

If we are going for the “complete” tight end then I’m going Washington. He still needs some pass catching refinement but he’s a truck in the run game and a freak athlete with great size.

I’d take either Washington or Kincaid over Mayer. Just think both have higher ceilings and both are elite at something right now.

[LittleRooster]

If we are going for the “complete” tight end then I’m going Washington. He still needs some pass catching refinement but he’s a truck in the run game and a freak athlete with great size.

I’d take either Washington or Kincaid over Mayer. Just think both have higher ceilings and both are elite at something right now.

Same. I really want Washington


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[sdn40]

I'll take any TE that doesn't have First Round next to his name

[LUKE23]

I still want Van Ness or Smith in first and trade up if need be for the TE. I also like JSN a ton.

[Matches Malone]

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[humanrefutation]

The fact that Van Ness couldn't start at Iowa gives me a lot of pause about drafting him at 15.