Bleacher Nation NFL 2023 Mock Draft: Bengals Get Burrow a New Tight End
The Bleacher Nation NFL 2023 Mock Draft will be a running mock draft that spans between now and round one of the NFL Draft. Each of the 31 picks (Miami forfeited their first-round pick due to tampering) will get a dedicated post. Here’s how it’ll work:
- Every pick in the Mock Draft gets its own post. We will do one or two picks per day.
- We will link back to previous posts with a running draft recap.
- This feature will not include trades and will cover the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
The Bengals are on the clock in the Bleacher Nation NFL Mock Draft …
The Pick Is In
TE Michael Mayer — Notre Dame
The Fit
Joe Burrow has a bevy of weapons to throw to on offense. Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Tyler Boyd are the big three. But one thing about the Bengals’ offense over the last couple of years has been their ability to adapt. Like the Kansas City Chiefs, they went from a take-the-top-off vertical threat to a team that beats the drop coverage underneath. Of course, Cincinnati could go defense here, but they’ll have a hard time passing up a do-it-all first-round tight end prospect in Notre Dame’s Michael Mayer.
Scouting Report
Mayer can do it all. He’s not the elite pass-catching specialist that Utah’s Dalton Kincaid is, but he’s no slouch when it comes to catching the football. Mayer logged 67 catches for 809 yards and nine touchdowns, earning consensus All-American honors. Mayer caught 180 passes for 2,099 yards and 18 touchdowns in three seasons with the Fighting Irish.
The sturdy tight end possesses outstanding strength and body control at the catch point and uses his body to gain leverage against defenders. Mayer is also a physical specimen and can block on the line or in space. He’s a versatile Y tight end who has an excellent chance of becoming a day-one starter, especially with a team like the Bengals.
Final Thoughts: Cincinnati is a perfect landing spot for Mayer. He’s a gifted athlete who can do it all at the tight end position and could be a contributor from day one in the right situation. The Bengals’ coaching staff is one of the best in the league, and having Joe Burrow and a trio of very good to excellent wide receivers in the huddle is a great situation for Mayer.
Bleacher Nation’s 2023 NFL Mock Draft
- Carolina Panthers (via CHI) — QB C.J. Stroud, Ohio State
- Houston Texans — QB Bryce Young, Alabama
- Arizona Cardinals — EDGE Will Anderson Jr., Alabama
- Indianapolis Colts — QB Anthony Richardson, Florida
- Seattle Seahawks (via DEN) — DT Jalen Carter, Georgia
- Detroit Lions (via LAR) — EDGE Tyree Wilson, Texas Tech
- Las Vegas Raiders — QB Will Levis, Kentucky
- Atlanta Falcons — EDGE Myles Murphy, Clemson
- Chicago Bears (via CAR) — CB Devon Witherspoon, Illinois
- Philadelphia Eagles (via NO) — DT Calijah Kancey, Pitt
- Tennessee Titans — T Paris Johnson Jr., Ohio State
- Houston Texans (via CLE) — WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ohio State
- New York Jets — T Broderick Jones, Georgia
- New England Patriots — CB Christian Gonzalez, Oregon
- Green Bay Packers — TE Dalton Kincaid, Utah
- Washington Commanders — CB Deonte Banks, Maryland
- Pittsburgh Steelers — CB Joey Porter Jr., Penn State
- Detroit Lions — CB Kelee Ringo, Georgia
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers — S Brian Branch, Alabama
- Seattle Seahawks — EDGE Lukas Van Ness, Iowa
- Los Angeles Chargers — WR Jordan Addison, USC
- Baltimore Ravens — WR Zay Flowers, Boston College
- Minnesota Vikings — QB Hendon Hooker, Tennessee
- Jacksonville Jaguars — T/G Peter Skoronski, Northwestern
- New York Giants — WR Quentin Johnston, TCU
- Dallas Cowboys — RB Bijan Robinson, Texas
- Buffalo Bills — WR Jalin Hyatt, Tennessee
- Cincinnati Bengals — TE Michael Mayer, Notre Dame
- New Orleans Saints (via SF)
- Philadelphia Eagles
- Kansas City Chiefs
