The Green Bay Packers have several holes that they need to address via free agency and the NFL Draft. Tight end is one of these positions with Tyler Davis, Robert Tonyan, and Marcedes Lewis all being free agents this offseason. Josiah Deguara is still under contract, but is more of a H-back than a traditional tight end. Based on these facts, many NFL analysts and Packers fans want/project Green Bay to select a tight end early in the NFL Draft. In a recent mock draft on CBS Sports, writer Kyle Stackpole predicted that the Packers would select Notre Dame tight end Michael Mayer with the 15th overall pick.
Michael Mayer Could Fill a Need for the Green Bay Packers
Apc Packvsvikes 0101231412djp
As noted above, the Packers have a desperate need at tight end. There is no guarantee that either Tonyan or Lewis will be back with the team. Even if they do return, neither played a major role as a pass catcher in the Packers’ offense in 2022. Tonyan, of course, tied the team record for touchdown receptions by a tight end in 2020, but tore his ACL in 2021 and has not been the same player since.
Mayer is widely regarded as the best tight end in the 2023 NFL Draft. He has recorded over 800 yards receiving in each of his past two seasons at Notre Dame. In 2021, Mayer had 71 receptions for 840 yards and seven touchdowns. This past season, he had 67 receptions for 809 yards and nine touchdowns.
Will the Packers Take a Tight End in the First Round?
The last time the Packers took a tight end in the first round was in 2000. That year, they drafted Bubba Franks with the 14th overall pick. In his rookie season, Franks had 34 receptions for 363 yards and a touchdown. He would go on to make the Pro Bowl in each of his next three seasons and ended up spending eight seasons with the Packers.
Aside from Jordan Love in 2020, the Packers have drafted a defensive player in the first round under Brian Gutekunst. In fact, the aside from the Love pick, the Packers have not drafted an offensive player in the first round since 2011. That pick was offensive tackle Derek Sherrod. The year before that pick, Green Bay took Bryan Bulaga in the first round. One would have to go back to 2008, when the Packers drafted Jordy Nelson, to find the last time the team took an offensive skill player with the first pick. Nelson, of course, was drafted in the second round (the Packers did not have a first round pick that year).
All of this to say that it would be very out of character for the team to draft Michael Mayer with their first round pick. Tight end is a need for the team, but there are other holes too, notably on defense. Given their history, it would appear to be more likely that Green Bay addresses on of those positions with their first round pick.
For More Great Wisconsin Sports Content
Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19 and follow us @WiSportsHeroics for more great content. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in Wisconsin sports, click here!
