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NFL Trade Idea Sends Promising TE to Titans

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Levi Dombro | Last updated Apr 14, 2025 1:13 PM ET

The Tennessee Titans are all but set on selecting Miami quarterback Cam Ward with the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. While this would provide a massive upgrade for the Titans at the most important position on the field, history has proven that a young signal-caller cannot do it all by himself.

Ward will need a slew of pass-catching options to ease the burden on him, and Tennessee does not currently have that. On Sunday, however, Bleacher Report's Moe Moton proposed a trade idea in which the Titans send a 2025 fifth-round pick to the Las Vegas Raiders in exchange for third-year tight end Michael Mayer and a 2025 sixth-rounder.

Mayer was a highly touted prospect coming out of Notre Dame in the 2023 NFL Draft, but he got off to a slow start during his professional career. He caught 27 passes for 304 yards and two touchdowns during his rookie season, but his production was largely inhibited by poor quarterback play in Las Vegas.

His sophomore year was a bit worse, as Brock Bowers came in under the new regime and stole his thunder. Mayer also missed a hefty portion of the season due to personal issues, but he seems to be in a better place and ready to make a big leap in year three.

The Titans only have one legitimate threat in the passing game, and that is wide receiver Calvin Ridley. Nick Westbrook-Ikhine left this offseason, and Chig Okonkwo has a limited ceiling, so adding another player with upside like Mayer could do wonders for Ward and the Tennessee offense.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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