​The Las Vegas Raiders turned heads on Saturday after it was reported the team had reached an agreement on a contract extension with tight end Michael Mayer.The extension itself wasn’t the most surprising part, but how much it cost definitely was.According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Mayer received a three-year, $45 million contract extension that includes $30 million guaranteed. The annual average ranks fifth among his positional peers after Tucker Kraft’s extension, according to Over The Cap.That is a shocking amount of money to give to a tight end who is not even tops on the team’s depth chart and has just 788 receiving yards and three touchdowns in his career.MORE: Predicting NFL Week 1 upsets for 2026 seasonThis has left Raiders fans and the NFL world as a whole scratching their heads, but this deal could end up making more sense depending on how things unfold with Brock Bowers.Brock Bowers injury concernLas Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (89) prepares to enter the field against the Arizona Cardinals at Allegiant Stadium. Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images via Reuters Connect (Reuters)Based on his production, there is no justifying what the Raiders have done here. Mayer is a good blocker and a capable pass-catcher, but he has not proven to be of the caliber to receive such a massive extension.After all, just look at the four guys in front of him, all of whom are elite playmakers at the position: George Kittle, Trey McBride, Tucker Kraft and Kyle Pitts.MORE: Brock Bowers injury update reveals recent surgery, timeline for returnHowever, this deal could start to pay dividends if Mayer is pushed into a bigger role moving forward as a result of the injury issues Brock Bowers has experienced.Bowers’ knee issues are no doubt concerning. He missed five games last season with knee injuries and is now slated to miss one or two games at the start of this season after undergoing a meniscus procedure.Taking it a step further, Bowers has dealt with PCL issues, which has a history of leading to a domino effect for players.We also have to wonder if Mayer’s extension is a sign the Raiders think Bowers could be out for longer than what has been reported.At the very least, it’s fair to wonder if the Raiders share the same concerns and envision Mayer taking on a bigger role, which could lead to bigger production and ultimately, a more expensive contract.If that unfolds, the Raiders will have gotten ahead of things and Mayer’s contract could end up looking like a bargain.— Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories with The Big Lead Newsletter —