Pass catchers from Raiders’ 2023 draft class ready for expanded roles

It wasn’t much of a surprise that Tre Tucker and Michael Mayer came up with big plays in the Raiders’ season-opening win over the Patriots.

Both players did the same thing almost every day of training camp.

Still, it’s crucial they proved they could carry their practice performances into games. They were ready to deliver when key moments arrived. That should earn them the trust of quarterback Geno Smith, which can only help moving forward.

“That’s the most important thing,” Tucker said.

Tucker, a 2023 third-round pick out of Cincinnati, finished with two catches for 54 yards in the opener. He had a 26-yard touchdown reception to finish off the Raiders’ first drive.

Mayer, a 2023 second-round pick out of Notre Dame, caught four passes for 38 yards. Both third-year players showed they’re ready to take on expanded roles in the Raiders’ offense.

“It’s just reassuring for them,” coach Pete Carroll said. “And both guys had terrific plays that made a difference in the game. I’m thrilled for both those guys.”

The game gave both players a confidence boost.

“It’s obviously huge,” Mayer said. “The more the ball gets in your hands, the more you want to make plays, the more you want to do things like that.”

Big lift

The Raiders’ offense could go from good to great if Tucker and Mayer can build on their performances.

The team knows what it has in tight end Brock Bowers and wide receiver Jakobi Meyers, Smith’s top two targets against the Patriots. Bowers had five catches for 103 yards before suffering a knee injury in the third quarter. Meyers had eight receptions for 97 yards.

It’s a given opposing defenses will try their hardest to stop Bowers and Meyers. That means there will be games when Tucker and Mayer need to pick up the slack.

The two looked capable of doing so in New England. Their efforts helped Smith throw for 362 yards, the second most in the NFL in Week 1 behind only Bills quarterback Josh Allen (394).

Smith, after targeting eight players in the win over the Patriots, poked some fun at the pundits who doubted the Raiders’ playmakers entering the season.

“Somebody told me we had no weapons,” Smith said Thursday.

Ready to emerge

Tucker, 24, has always had the speed to make an impact.

He was limited to 331 yards as a rookie, in part due to an eyesight issue that required LASIK surgery. He had 539 yards last year but was limited by the Raiders’ poor quarterback play.

Tucker has taken another step in his development this season and formed a strong connection with Smith, one of the most accurate quarterbacks in the NFL. Their chemistry was on display on the Raiders’ first touchdown. Tucker made a great read and ran a strong route to beat his man to the end zone, while Smith placed the ball perfectly into the wide receiver’s hands.

“It kind of validates what you’ve been doing throughout spring, through training camp,” Tucker said. “And that’s what you hope to continue to keep doing.”

Mayer, 24, also had room to grow after his first two seasons. He finished with 21 catches for 156 yards last year and missed six games for personal reasons.

Smith, Carroll and first-year offensive coordinator Chip Kelly were determined to get Mayer more involved this season. Smith’s trust in the tight end was evident in the Patriots game.

The Raiders were facing a fourth-and-1 from the New England 30-yard line in the fourth quarter up 17-13. Smith rolled out to his left but didn’t see anyone open. He then saw Mayer in the middle of the field and threw across his body. Mayer made a great catch for an 8-yard gain that ultimately led to a field goal for the Raiders.

The team wasn’t getting those kind of plays from Tucker and Mayer consistently last year. If the Raiders do this season, their offense has a chance to improve by leaps and bounds.

“It’s Week 1,” Mayer said. “So, you build throughout the season, you build on it. I’m really excited about what Chip’s been doing with the offense and what we’ve been doing. And, you know, just keep my head down and keep working hard.”

Contact Vincent Bonsignore at vbonsignore@reviewjournal.com. Follow @VinnyBonsignore on X.