On Friday we noted that the Raiders had held discussions with interested teams, but the idea that the Raiders are trying to trade Mayer adds a layer of urgency to this. Mayer missed a big chunk of this past season for “personal” reasons and that will likely factor into his market value. He fell from a 27/304/2 receiving line in 2023 to a 21/156/0 slash in 2024 as Brock Bowers took over in Las Vegas. New regimes often sell low on players from the past era, so perhaps a team will be able to buy low on Mayer.

Mayer makes for an intriguing dart throw for TE-needy teams. The 2023 second-round pick missed six games due to personal reasons in 2024 but was a well-respected prospect just two years ago. With sub-$3 million salary cap hits in each of the next two seasons, Mayer profiles as a highly affordable, potential starter.

Mayer was fated for a quiet season after the Raiders drafted generational tight end Brock Bowers in the first round. Things went from bad to worse when he was placed on the reserve/NFI list early in the year for personal reasons. Mayer missed six games and returned to a backup role later in the season. He strangely erupted for seven catches and 68 yards in Week 14 but did little aside from that game. It was his only contest with more than two catches or 14 yards until Week 18. The Raiders could view Mayer as a strong backup option to Mayer, but the former second-round would still fetch a strong return in a trade. His name will undoubtedly come up in trade talks, giving dynasty managers something to cling to heading into 2025.

Meanwhile, Brock Bowers is setting records with one of the best seasons we’ve ever seen from a rookie tight end. Mayer is a talented player in his own right, and fantasy managers will hope that the 2023 second-round pick can get traded in the offseason to a team that will make him more of a featured part of their offense.