NFL draft: All-time Notre Dame tight ends selected
In just three years at Notre Dame, tight end Michael Mayer set just about every individual record at the position. That’s no small feat anywhere, but especially at Notre Dame which is known by some as “Tight End U.”
Mayer is expected to hear his name called in the back half of the first round of the 2023 NFL draft. If not then, one would assume he wouldn’t last long in the second round.
When his name is called it will be the 22nd time a Notre Dame tight end has been drafted into the NFL. Here are the 21 that proceeded Mayer.
Jim Winegardner
Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports
Name: Jim Winegardner
Year: 1969
Team: Chicago Bears
Draft selection: 5th round, 119th overall
Dave Casper
David Boss-USA TODAY Sports
Name: Dave Casper
Year: 1974
Team: Oakland Raiders
Draft selection: 2nd round, 45th overall
Tom Fine
Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports
Name: Tom Fine
Year: 1975
Team: Buffalo Bills
Draft selection: 16th round, 408th overall
Ken MacAfee
Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports
Name: Ken MacAfee
Year: 1978
Team: San Francisco 49ers
Draft selection: 1st round, 7th overall
Pete Holohan
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Name: Pete Holohan
Year: 1981
Team: San Diego Chargers
Draft selection: 7th round, 189th overall
Tony Hunter
Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
Name: Tony Hunter
Year: 1983
Team: Buffalo Bills
Draft selection: 1st round, 12th overall
Mark Bavaro
Mike Powell /Allsport
Name: Mark Bavaro
Year: 1985
Team: New York Giants
Draft selection: 4th round, 100th overall
Joel Williams
Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Name: Joel Williams
Year: 1987
Team: Miami Dolphins
Draft selection: 8th round, 210th overall
Derek Brown
USA TODAY SPORTS
Name: Derek Brown
Year: 1992
Team: New York Giants
Draft selection: 1st round, 14th overall
Irv Smith
RVR Photos-USA TODAY Sports
Name: Irv Smith
Year: 1993
Team: New Orleans Saints
Draft selection: 1st round, 20th overall
Pete Chryplewicz
Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Name: Pete Chryplewicz
Year: 1997
Team: Detroit Lions
Draft selection: 5th round, 135th overall
Jabari Holloway
AP Photo/Steven Senne
Name: Jabari Holloway
Year: 2001
Team: New England Patriots
Draft selection: 4th round, 119th overall
Dan O'Leary
Mark Lyons /Allsport
Name: Dan O’Leary
Year: 2001
Team: Buffalo Bills
Draft selection: 6th round, 195th overall
John Owens
Jonathan Daniel/Allsport
Name: John Owens
Year: 2002
Team: Detroit Lions
Draft selection: 5th round, 138th overall
Jerome Collins
AP Photo/Julie Jacobson Collins is No. 86 in background
Name: Jerome Collins
Year: 2005
Team: St. Louis Rams
Draft selection: 5th round, 144th overall
Anthony Fasano
Matthew Emmons- USA TODAY Sports
Name: Anthony Fasano
Year: 2006
Team: Dallas Cowboys
Draft selection: 2nd round, 53rd overall
John Carlson
Name: John Carlson
Year: 2008
Team: Seattle Seahawks
Draft selection: 2nd round, 38th overall
: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Name: Kyle Rudolph
Year: 2011
Team: Minnesota Vikings
Draft selection: 2nd round, 43rd overall
Tyler Eifert
Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Name: Tyler Eifert
Year: 2013
Team: Cincinnati Bengals
Draft selection: 1st round, 21st overall
Troy Niklas
Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
Name: Troy Niklas
Year: 2014
Team: Arizona Cardinals
Draft selection: 2nd round, 52nd overall
Ben Koyack
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Name: Ben Koyack
Year: 2015
Team: Jacksonville Jaguars
Draft selection: 7th round, 229th overall
Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Name: Durham Smythe
Year: 2018
Team: Miami Dolphins
Draft selection: 4th round, 123rd overall
Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
Name: Alize Mack
Year: 2019
Team: New Orleans Saints
Draft selection: 7th round, 231st overall
AP Photo/David Richard
Name: Cole Kmet
Year: 2020
Team: Chicago Bears
Draft selection: 2nd round, 43rd overall
Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Name: Tommy Tremble
Year: 2021
Team: Carolina Panthers
Draft selection: 3rd round, 83rd overall
Michael Mayer
Syndication: South Bend Tribune
Name: Michael Mayer
Year: 2023
Team/Draft selection: We’ll know shortly…
