The Jacksonville Jaguars lost Brenton Strange to a quad injury during the 31-28 win over the San Francisco 49ers. One day after the game, the third-year tight end landed on the Injury Reserve, meaning that he'll miss at least four games. This is a massive blow to the offense when you take into account just how much he contributes as a pass catcher and a blocker.
And while the Jags have a handful of in-house options to replace Strange, they should most definitely dip their toes in the trade market. There's one in particular they should keep tabs on, and he's currently on the Las Vegas Raiders roster.
The Jaguars must consider trading for Michael Mayer
During Brenton Strange's absence, the Jaguars will lean on a combination of Hunter Long, Johnny Mundt, and Quintin Morris — he just got signed to the active roster — to replace his production. That said, neither of those tight ends is as productive as the former Penn State Lion. The silver lining is that he will return at some point of the regular season, but that shouldn't stop general manager James Gladstone from giving the Silver & Black a call and inquiring about Michael Mayer.
A second-round pick in 2023, Mayer had a productive rookie campaign, hauling in 27 receptions for 304 yards with two touchdowns. While those numbers don't pop off the stat sheet, it's important to point out that he was on an offense where he was the fourth or even fifth receiving option behind Davante Adams, Jakobi Meyers, and even running back Josh Jacobs.
But despite his encouraging 2023 campaign, Mayer was phased out in favor of Brock Bowers. Whereas the latter went on to become one of the best tight ends in the NFL, the former became an afterthought in Las Vegas.
Things haven't improved much in 2025. Leaving aside that the Raiders are a mess, Mayer has tallied a measly six receptions for 47 yards. That's certainly not the kind of impact Las Vegas expected when they drafted him, and if they don't plan to use him, why not just trade him and acquire draft capital for next year? That's where the Jags come in.
Why the Jaguars are a reasonable trade destination for Michael Mayer
As noted before, Strange will return at some point in 2025, but the Jaguars need to fill the void left by his stay on Injured Reserve. Although Michael Mayer isn't nearly as proficient a blocker as Strange, he could be a solid replacement during his absence.
Back in Notre Dame, Mayer showcased his pass-catching skills, setting school records for career receptions by a tight end, career yards by a tight end, and career touchdowns. This is a long-winded way to say that he could step up as a pass catcher during Strange's absence.
Sure, it doesn't look like the Raiders are actively shopping Mayer, but they're not in great shape right now, and they probably won't be opposed to parting ways with a player who isn't a cornerstone on offense. The Jaguars, for their part, have the ammo to pull off a trade.
After the Tank Bigsby trade, the Jags had three third-round picks, one fourth-rounder, three fifths, one sixth, and four seventh-rounders in 2026. They most definitely have the ammo to get a deal done without compromising their ability to replenish the roster next year.
Probably a fourth and a seventh would get a deal done. And that's a solid price to pay for a player who could have an immediate impact during Brenton Strange's absence. Given general manager James Gladstone's track record of making deals, nobody should bat an eye if they trade for Michael Mayer or any other tight end to bolster their depth at the position.