The Miami Dolphins have the NFL’s weakest tight end room following the Jonnu Smith trade. Included in the blockbuster deal that sent Jalen Ramsey to the Pittsburgh Steelers, Smith is coming off an impressive season where he recorded 88 receptions for 884 yards and eight touchdowns. No player remaining on the open market can completely replace that lost production, but the team must add more talent to a tight end room currently comprised of Julian Hill, Pharaoh Brown, Tanner Conner, and Hayden Rucci.
According to Omar Kelly of the Miami Herald, that player could be Michael Mayer of the Las Vegas Raiders. Saying that the Dolphins have “had their eye on” him for a while, the former top-40 pick is buried behind superstar Brock Bowers on the depth chart and could benefit from a change of scenery. Of course, the Dolphins aren’t the only team interested in him, and they could lose him to these other three teams.
Miami has had their eye on Raider TE Michael Mayer for a while. He’s had some on and off-field challenges with the Raiders. But he’s slated to make $1.6M in 2025 and $2M in 2026.
Dolphins also shopping for cornerback help. https://t.co/onpZiK9tWj
— Omar Kelly (@OmarKelly) June 30, 2025
Dolphins Encouraged to Trade For Michael Mayer After Losing Jonnu Smith
Other Fits
Washington Commanders
The Washington Commanders have the biggest competitive advantage in football: a franchise quarterback on a rookie contract. After taking the team to the NFC Championship Game as a rookie, quarterback Jayden Daniels should have his eyes set on a Super Bowl in 2025. While Michael Mayer won’t single-handedly be the reason this team lifts the Lombardi Trophy, he could add more talent to a weak tight end room. Zach Ertz isn’t getting any younger, and while Ben Sinnott finished 2024 with just five receptions. If the Dolphins don’t get him after losing Jonnu Smith, the Commanders have every reason to trade for Michael Mayer.
New Orleans Saints
New Orleans is embracing a long-overdue rebuild, and first-year head coach Kellen Moore’s biggest priority should be determining whether or not second-round pick Tyler Shough can be a franchise quarterback. While the Saints have a few reliable receivers, they could use an upgrade to the tight end position. Juwan Johnson is nothing more than an adequate depth piece, and Michael Mayer could give Shough a safe checkdown option while also providing more value as a blocker on in-line reps.
Kansas City Chiefs
Travis Kelce will not retire in 2025, but the future Hall of Famer is much closer to the end of his career than the beginning. The Chiefs were never going to trade for an established veteran like Jonnu Smith, but perhaps they could take a low-risk, medium-reward flier on someone like Michael Mayer. Nobody is saying he will become the next Kelce, but he could spend the 2025 season acclimating to life in Kansas City before earning a larger role when Kelce inevitably hangs up the cleats. Of course, the Raiders won’t want to send their young tight end to the best team in their division, but they might swallow their pride if Kansas City is the highest bidder.
Main Photo: Stephen R. Sylvanie – Imagn Images
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