The Chicago Bears are planning to make improving their offensive and defensive lines their top priorities during the 2025 NFL offseason, but they will also need to seek out additional playmakers for quarterback Caleb Williams on offense.
Luckily enough, the Las Vegas Raiders just put a promising one on the NFL trade block.
According to The Athletic’s Vic Tafur and Tashan Reed, the Raiders have been shopping tight end Michael Mayer — the No. 35 pick in the 2023 NFL draft — on the trade market and are “open to other trade discussions” with the new league year to begin next week.
The Raiders believed Mayer could have a potent impact on their offense when they took him in the second round in 2023, but he underachieved as a rookie with just 27 catches for 304 yards and two touchdowns. Las Vegas then pushed Mayer into a limited role in 2024 after landing a generational talent in Brock Bowers, who became the top target.
“Mayer will be on a team-friendly rookie contract for two more seasons and there are several teams who thought highly of him as a prospect,” Tafur and Reed wrote Friday. “With Bowers in tow, it could make more sense for the Raiders to trade Mayer for assets rather than having him locked into a relatively small role.”
It could also make sense for the Bears — who need more pass-catchers — to appeal to the Raiders’ new sense of direction and take a chance on Mayer for a reasonable price.
Bears Could Trade for Michael Mayer With Low Risk
The Bears may already have their starting tight end in Cole Kmet for the 2025 season, but that does not mean they don’t have needs to address at the position this offseason.
In February, the Bears released veteran tight end Gerald Everett from their roster after he brought minimal production to their offense in 2024. The Chicago Tribune’s Brad Biggs also noted in his recent column that “signs are they’ll look to the draft” to add depth behind Kmet. Mayer’s sudden availability creates another avenue, though.
