The Las Vegas Raiders have the next big thing at the tight end position in former Georgia Bulldog Brock Bowers. As a result, the Raiders may part ways with another promising young tight end who was highly touted in the NFL Draft.
And the LA Chargers could try and benefit from it.
Per Vic Tafur and Tashan Reed of The Athletic, the Raiders have talked to other teams about trading former Notre Dame tight end Michael Mayer. Las Vegas selected Mayer in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft and with the arrival of Bowers, his playing time dipped in 2024. Mayer went from playing 602 total offensive snaps in 2023 to 460 in 2024.
Raiders' Michael Mayer is a perfect trade target for the Chargers
The Chargers have a massive need at tight end and would benefit greatly from acquiring a cost-effective, young option with high upside. Mayer was a draft crush for many Chargers fans two years ago and while his first two years have been quiet, that high ceiling on the right team is still there.
If Colston Loveland or Tyler Warren don't fall to the Chargers in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, then the options become very limited. This tight end class is deep with pass-catching options, but each of the mid-round targets bring some concern. Plus, it is a lot to ask a mid-round rookie tight end to be the primary pass-catching tight end.
The free agency class at tight is lackluster as well. The Chargers don't have many options to bolster the tight end room, so when a name like Mayer becomes available, the Bolts must take notice.
There is just one massive hurdle in a potential Mayer trade: he is on the Raiders. Division rivals don't execute trades very often and that is true for the AFC West foes. The Chargers and Raiders do not do business with each other and Vegas won't be inclined to help the Bolts improve.
The Raiders will take any similar offers over whatever the Chargers offer. It does not even matter if a draft pick is a few picks lower than the Chargers' pick. Vegas would likely sacrifice the few spots in the draft to keep the Chargers from improving.
Unfortunately, this could kill a trade before it ever happens. The Raiders don't have to trade Mayer this offseason and would likely only do so if the team received a great offer. The Chargers are going to have a massive AFC West tax that will likely take the trade out of the realm of possibility.
Perhaps the new front office in Las Vegas will slip up and help the Chargers improve a huge area of need. Unfortunately, the Bolts may have to watch a perfect trade target get dealt somewhere else.