The Cincinnati Bengals have long tried to find quarterback Joe Burrow a tight end option worthy of his talent. From Mike Gesicki to Erick All, Hayden Hurst, and C.J. Uzomah, Cincinnati has continued to swing and miss at the position.
However, spending significant capital at tight end isn’t necessarily a quick fix, either. Big tight end contracts aren’t exactly a beacon of surplus value, and first-round options are more upside than substance.
The Bengals could find themselves interested in Tyler Warren or Colston Loveland in Round 1, but with so many defensive holes, the position could be deprioritized.
Cincinnati may find its next starter on the trade block instead. Bengals trade rumors are swirling around Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer.
“The Raiders have had discussions with teams who have interest in tight end Michael Mayer, according to league sources,” Vic Tafur and Tashan Reed wrote. “Mayer hasn’t had the impact the Raiders hoped for when he was drafted in the second round in 2023. He had just 27 catches for 304 yards and two touchdowns in 14 games as a rookie. He missed six games due to personal reasons in 2024 and was delegated to a marginal role due to the ascent of tight end Brock Bowers, who was named a first-team All-Pro.
“Mayer will be on a team-friendly rookie contract for two more seasons and there are several teams who thought highly of him as a prospect. With Bowers in tow, it could make more sense for the Raiders to trade Mayer for assets rather than having him locked into a relatively small role.”
For several reasons, Cincinnati should consider themselves interested in the third-year tight end.
Mayer is versatile, a definitive shift from tight ends of recent Bengals memory. Gesicki is in no way a strong blocker, rendering himself locked into the slot. But Mayer trades some passing-offense upside for the ability to win both as a blocker and receiver. He’d allow the Bengals to hide their intentions better while remaining competent as a security blanket. He’s a natural fit for the kind of option routes Burrow can find success with, and his 4.70-second speed helps him threaten the seam.
Further, tight ends can often take longer to develop than other positions. He wouldn’t be the first tight end to break out in Year 3, especially with an upgrade under center facilitating more production.
As a former top tight end prospect, there’s a level of pedigree and production – two 800-yard seasons with seven and nine scores, respectively, to end his college career – that inspires optimism about future development.
For the cost of a Day 3 pick, there’s a blend of athleticism and traits that make Mayer a strong fit for the Bengals, even if the first two years of his NFL career haven’t gone as planned.
