Raiders predicted to trade $9 million former 2nd-round pick to Commanders

In the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, the Las Vegas Raiders selected tight end Brock Bowers. 

Bowers ended up bursting onto the scene in the NFL as a rookie, and is already one of the best tight ends in the league after just one season.

The Georgia product caught a whopping 112 passes for 1,194 yards and five touchdowns in 2024 and should be ticketed for another huge season with Geno Smith now throwing to him. 

As a result of Bowers' ascension, another tight end could be on the way out in Las Vegas.

Michael Mayer was drafted by the Raiders' regime led by former general manager Dave Ziegler in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft. However, Mayer has yet to break out in the league, and has been a fixture in trade rumors recently. 

David Latham of LWOS believes the Raiders could end up trading Mayer to the Washington Commanders this offseason. The Commanders were one of the NFL's biggest surprises in 2024 thanks to rookie sensation Jayden Daniels, but the team could use some more pass-catchers. 

Zach Ertz is back for another season with the Washington Commanders, but the longtime veteran isn’t getting any younger. Perhaps second-year tight end Ben Sinnott can establish himself as a key part of Jayden Daniels’ passing attack, but it wouldn’t hurt to trade for a safer option in Michael Mayer. The Commanders have the biggest competitive advantage in sports: a franchise quarterback on a rookie contract. The time is now to go all-in and try to win a Super Bowl before Daniels resets the quarterback market with his second professional contract.

As Latham mentioned, the Commanders still have Zach Ertz around at the tight end spot. However, Ertz will turn 35 during the 2025 season, and the depth options on the roster have yet to show much. 

Ben Sinnott was a second-round pick in 2024, but the tight end caught just five passes for 28 yards during his rookie campaign. John Bates is still around as well, but the veteran has never been much of a receiving threat. 

Mayer, meanwhile, has shown some receiver upside. As a rookie in 2023, the tight end caught 27 passes for 304 yards and two touchdowns. Mayer's numbers took a hit in 2024 thanks to Bowers and an extended absence due to personal reasons and the tight end ended with 21 catches for 156 yards. 

Still, Mayer was thought of highly enough to be a second-round pick just two years ago, so it's possible other teams believe he could be utilized better.

In Washington, Mayer would have the luxury of having a young star quarterback and a roster ready to contend.