The Las Vegas Raiders awarded a lucrative contract extension to a tight end on Saturday, though it was not to injured Pro Bowler Brock Bowers.
Instead, Las Vegas secured backup Michael Mayer to a three-year, $45 million extension featuring $30 million guaranteed, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, making him the fifth-highest-paid tight end in the league.
Bowers, who will not play in Sunday’s season opener against the Dolphins after undergoing meniscus surgery in his left knee earlier this week, recorded 64 catches for 680 yards and seven touchdowns in 12 games last season following his NFL rookie record of 112 receptions in 2024.
Mayer’s statistics are less spectacular, with the 2023 second-round pick posting career highs of 35 receptions, 328 yards, and one touchdown across 13 appearances last season.
Bowers, the 13th overall selection from Notre Dame in 2024, has two years remaining on his four-year, $18.1 million rookie contract.
Green Bay tight end Tucker Kraft also signed a four-year extension worth up to $92 million on Saturday.
Mayer’s average annual value of $15 million places him behind only George Kittle ($19.1 million), Trey McBride ($19 million), Tucker Kraft ($18.75 million), and Kyle Pitts ($17.7 million) among NFL tight ends, per Over the Cap.
