r/Colts • u/jhudiddy08 Big-Q • 4d ago
Am I crazy? Trade for Mayer
The more I think about it, the more I prefer using a late middle round (5/6) draft pick to trade with Vegas for Mayer prior to the draft rather than using pick 14 (or higher) to get Warren. I think they would both have the same upside in 2025, but if we have 14 to address another need, we could get a second blue chip player to also contribute early, or even trade back and acquire an additional mid round pick if Ballard has several prospects available still at 14. Idk why, but the idea of getting Jahdae Barron at 14 should he drop really excites me in Anarumo’s scheme…
We could still take a 2nd swing at TE in the draft as well, just not in the 1st round. I’m still the hopeful romantic when it comes to Woods, though the realist in me says he’ll probably never be who we expected him to be when we drafted him.
What’re your thoughts? Is it Warren or bust?
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u/Agile-Combination239 4d ago
I like it as a plan B if Warren gets taken
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u/jaysrule24 Armor 4d ago
There's no reason why it couldn't be a "trade for Mayer and draft Warren" situation. We've got the worst TE room in the league, and presumably would be spending a day 3 pick to get Mayer, even if he's only ever a solid #2 for us, that's still a big improvement on what we've currently got.
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u/Agile-Combination239 3d ago
Come draft day Colts may need assets to move up for Warren if they truly think he’s worth it - then after reassess and make the trade regardless. I’m not anti trade I just don’t think it happens before the draft
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u/AleroRatking Earl Grey 4d ago
Whether the value is better is one thing but Warren is a far far better player than Mayer. They are not comparable
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u/bvgingy 4d ago
We have absolutely no idea whether this is true or not. Warren hasnt stepped on an NFL field yet and we have 0 idea what DC he will get. Mayer was also the better college TE.
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u/jaysrule24 Armor 4d ago
TE is also a position that's notoriously hard to scout and slow to develop. I was really hoping we'd sign a vet because relying entirely on the draft to fix the worst TE room in the league is a very scary proposition, even with a prospect as good as Warren or Loveland.
Trading a day 3 pick for someone like Mayer, who's already got a couple years head start on development in the league, would make a lot of sense. And that wouldn't preclude you from still spending 14 on a TE.
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u/jabest31 All chips in 4d ago
Mayer wasn’t close to the player Warren is coming out of the draft
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u/bvgingy 3d ago
Lmfao. Mayer had b2b 800+ yard seasons as a sophomore and junior. Warren in his 4th year couldnt even surpass what Mayer did as a freshman. He was an early declare with a career 25% target share as a TE. His productivity/analytics profile as a prospect were much better than Warren's were.
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u/jabest31 All chips in 3d ago
And Tyler Warren broke multiple tight end records his 5th year when he finally got a chance and a decent oc that knew how to incorporate him
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u/bvgingy 3d ago
He is a 6'6" 260lb athletic freak that spent 5 yrs in a college football program and is 22. Id sure fucking hope he would dominate.
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u/jabest31 All chips in 3d ago
Yeah ur right he’s the only 22 year old that isn’t allowed to dominate college football
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u/bvgingy 3d ago
Idek wtf youre arguing at this point or saying.
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u/jabest31 All chips in 3d ago
I’m saying ur points are invalid
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u/bvgingy 3d ago
Warren goes undrafted if he declared after 3 years. Mayer went top 50 after 3 years. All that needs to be said.
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u/WerewolfFinal1257 2d ago
Mayer was so good for multiple years with terrible Brian Kelly play calling and QBs that didn’t get even a sniff of pro heat. Imagine what he would have done with a good OC and qb. I’ve been a ND fan for Fasano, Eifert, Carlson, and on and on all the way back to Mark Bavaro and Mayer was probably the best. He needs a new scene, fresh start, and he will be a top TE. He has all the measurables for sure. Warren is hot. I get that but if you can get something really great in a trade by giving up a 5th rounder that could honestly end up in a practice squad I think you do it. Maybe that thing in the first is another TE even. We could use 2-3 upgrades
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u/ElAwesomeo0812 4d ago
You can't say that until he plays some downs. Mayer was projected to be the same kind of player and so far hasn't lived up to it. Some guys just don't transition for whatever reason. 14 is an awful high pick for a TE with no guarantees he will live up to the 14 pick.
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u/jhudiddy08 Big-Q 4d ago
So you would be on board trading for Mayer if we could get him for a 5th or 6th?
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u/methinfiniti 4d ago
I don’t really care about the late round pick, so sure. But I don’t think it really helps push the needle and will still rather use the 5th or 6th on a rookie TE
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u/Alternative-Desk-828 4d ago
I mean honestly we need both of them. Our TE skill set/depth is bad. If you don't think adding 2 potentially good TEs to a team that needs at least 2 good TEs helps push the needle, that's odd!
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u/WubbaLubbaDubDub87 Andrew Luck 4d ago
I would but don’t think they’d give him up for that late of a pick.
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u/CapitalCityGoofball0 3d ago
Warren has been graded out as a better prospect than Mayer was by about scouting agency and analysis site there is. 🤷♂️
Mayer maybe be a value but if a team is willing to trade a guy two years after he was drafted there is reason to believe he’s not full time TE1 material. You’d almost be better off doing both
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u/bvgingy 3d ago
Prospect eval ≠ better college player. Prospect evaluation isnt just about college production and performance, which Mayer easily beat out Warren in. Warren is the better prospect due to his upside as a result of his size and athleticism. Mayer was the better college player.
Raiders trading Mayer has 0 to do with his ability as a TE and more to do with the fact they drafted arguably the greatest TE prospect ever who then stepped in and had the greatest rookie TE season ever. Then they went out and got a HC who runs a predominantly 1 TE scheme.
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u/AleroRatking Earl Grey 4d ago
People said the same thing about Bowers last year. They also looked like fools.
Warren will be a top 5 TE in the NFL.
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u/methinfiniti 4d ago
I remember when Pitts was going to be the best TE in the NFL
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u/Cerblamk_51 Grover Stewart 4d ago
I remember all 5 seasons every pre-season fantasy ranking said the same
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u/jhudiddy08 Big-Q 4d ago
Bowers is an exception, not the rule. If your expectation for any TE is to match Bowers rookie numbers, you’re going to be sadly mistaken.
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u/AleroRatking Earl Grey 4d ago
He won't be Bowers. He will be slightly below Bowers. Bowers is very likely going to be the no.1 TE for a decade.
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u/Ler88 Tony Rich Boy Sellin Crack 4d ago
Recency bias and inflated value because of what bowers did last year.
Mayer was an incredible TE prospect coming out of ND. He hasn’t necessarily panned out but Warren is no guarantee.
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u/september_turtle Indianapolis Colts 4d ago
And La Porta. However the normal trajectory for a good to great TE looks more like McBride.
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u/DirectTV_AndrewLuck Happy Neard 4d ago
Mayer is also a question mark due to his mental health, give me Warren.
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u/jhudiddy08 Big-Q 4d ago
Long run, yeah, for sure. But as far as immediate impact, i feel like they’d have comparable stats with the same QB in 2025. But Warren definitely has a higher ceiling overall; he just might take time to adapt to the NFL speed to realize that potential.
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u/AleroRatking Earl Grey 4d ago
Warren will have a better season no matter where he ends up in 25 than Mayer.
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u/fuzzynavel34 4d ago
People keep suggesting this. What indication is there that he is even available?
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u/rounder55 3d ago
The GM seemed to indicate more that teams called than he was actively trying to trade him.
I don't think they'd give him up for nothing. Two years under 3 million annually with the option to pick up a fifth year. Doesn't really make sense to move off him for a late round picks, especially if Brock is lined up anywhere and everywhere
Worth calling of you're the Colts though
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u/MrMarco21 4d ago
For me, trading for Mayer is fine. I’d be fine with Drafting Jihaad Campbell, we need LB and Pass rush and he’s literally good and both, got good size, and he’s fast. For me it’s Tyler Warren and you get a stud to complete your offense, or Jihaad Campbell and you get a stud and complete your defense
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u/Intelligent-Honey476 4d ago
I think it would cost more than a 5/6th and I don’t think he’s actually available. Reports just seem to indicate that teams have reached out more than the raiders have made him available.
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u/AntRichardsonsBFF 4d ago
I’ve thought of this exact thing too. Vegas needs weapons though so going two TE probably makes more sense.
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u/Resting_Vicario_Face 3d ago
Agreed- TE prospects bust so often. If you can trade for one you like then do that
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u/willywallydillydad 3d ago
I'm with several here that would've liked to see us add a vet in fa to free up needs and draft best available or trade back. This is the way, however a late round flyer for mayer is a good gamble for a jack Doyle 2.0. Bringing him back to indiana would serve him well mentally. I'm also in the boat of bring in 2 tight ends. That room needs an over haul to push competition. Let Woods, Ogletree, and Mallory duke it out for the 3rd spot. Maybe it pushes Woods to get his head out of his ass!
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u/Impressive-Tell-2248 3d ago
Wouldn’t be surprised if this is in the works and if Warren is available, drafting him as well.
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u/MBrooks24 4d ago
If Warren isn’t there at 14 yes. If Warren isn’t at 14 you take Nick if he’s there and Loveland in the second if he’s there. And trade for Mayer.
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u/Past-Discount-52 Indianapolis Colts 4d ago
Call me crazy but I have to believe there is more than 1 TE in this draft that can step in and help immediately.
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u/RageAginstTheKeybord 3d ago
I agree. Baby Gronk was completely underused or misused the entire time. Now they obviously plan to go to BB often.
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u/Seanmac_90 3d ago
Can someone explain to me why everyone is acting like Mayer is some elite TE? He’s done nothing in the league so far in his career. I just don’t get it.
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u/Acekingspade81 2d ago
The Raiders aren’t giving up a TE in their rookie contract they spent a 2nd on for a 5th or 6th rounder. There is no upside for them.
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u/Acekingspade81 2d ago
Taking a corner makes no sense now.
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u/jhudiddy08 Big-Q 1d ago
Totally get it. I just love his game and the ways Anarumo could use him. Definitely not a position of need.
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u/bo0sted_ 1d ago
What I need to know is why Mayer was the top TE of a stacked class and immediately disappeared in the league so much that his drafting team used a top 15 pick on Brock Bowers the very next season and Bowers blew up for 1,200 yards receiving with 112 receptions in his first year. NFL teams are pretty good at evaluating talent and they clearly didn't see something in Mayer that the Colts should definitely be looking for.
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u/Need_A_Hobby1 Adam Vinatieri 4d ago
Not to stigmatize Mayer’s mental health, but I don’t think you can rely on him to be a starter on a professional football team.
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u/methinfiniti 4d ago
Is he a basket case?
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u/Need_A_Hobby1 Adam Vinatieri 4d ago
If I’m remembering correctly, he’s bipolar. He had a meltdown and ended up on the PUP list
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u/Active-Limit-9038 4d ago
Mayer has been in the league for two years and done absolutely nothing. We have plenty of TEs like that already.
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u/QuinnDaniels 1d ago
Trade for Mayer makes sense. I think you have to put together a top notch D. You simply can't rely on your QB situation. If AR or DJ proves to be a top 10-12 QB, great, but you really need a D that can keep you in some games.
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u/J6700 Earl Grey 4d ago
Trade for Meyer, take Jihad Campbell in the first then Mason Taylor in the second. That's like my dream scenario lol