This year's tight end class is considered one of the very best in recent history, and the best overall position group ahead of the 2023 NFL Draft.
Leading the group: Notre Dame tight end Michael Mayer, whom many believe will be chosen in the first round of April's draft.
Whether the Patriots will use the 14th overall pick on a tight end is anyone's guess (Bucky Brooks had them doing just that in his first mock draft). But New England did meet with Mayer last week at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, according to Patriots.com.
This might not mean anything. The Patriots, like every team, meet with most prospects at some point during the pre-draft process. And New England should do its due diligence with all of this year's elite prospects, regardless of whether it plans to keep or trade the 14th pick.
Nevertheless, the Patriots should consider drafting a tight end in April, be it Mayer or someone else.
Hunter Henry is scheduled to become a free agent after next season and Jonnu Smith the year after. New England reportedly won't release Henry this offseason, but it's easy to envision him walking in 2024. As for Smith, his contract essentially makes him impossible to cut this offseason, but next year could be a different story. Either way, he hasn't lived up to expectations since joining New England in 2021.
If the Patriots don't plan ahead, they could be perilously thin at tight end a year from now. Their inability to plan for life without Rob Gronkowski strongly contributed to the offense's shortcomings in 2019 and 2020. New England must avoid a repeat of those failures.
And Mayer would solve that problem overnight. At 6-foot-4 and 249 pounds, the Notre Dame product is a big and strong tight end who's capable of playing inside and outside. He's viewed as a strong blocker and above-average pass-catcher.
His performance at the combine didn't generate any headlines, but he showcased solid athleticism for a tight end.
40-yard dash: 4.7 seconds
10-yard split: 1.66 seconds
Vertical jump: 32.5 inches
Broad jump: 9 feet, 10 inches
Mayer was a force at Notre Dame, topping 67 catches and 800 receiving yards in each of the last two seasons. He caught nine touchdowns this season after hauling in seven the previous campaign.
The Patriots have greater needs than tight end, to be sure. It's hard to make a case for them doing anything with the 14th pick other than trading it or drafting an offensive tackle.
But if New England wants to target an offensive skill position, you could argue tight end would make more sense than wide receiver. If the Patriots go that route, Mayer would be the top option.
