Acquired via trade following his 1969 rookie season, Ohio State standout Rufus Mayes arrived in Cincinnati after being taken 14th overall by the Chicago Bears in the first round. The Bengals sent defensive linemen Bill Staley and Harry Gunner to Chicago in exchange for Mayes—a swap that tilted heavily in Cincinnati's favor as Mayes went on to spend nearly a decade protecting the perimeter in Queen City.

At 6 feet 5 inches and 250 pounds, Mayes possessed excellent quickness and technique, stepping straight into the starting left tackle spot. He served as the primary anchor for Paul Brown's offensive front, protecting the blind side for quarterbacks Virgil Carter and Ken Anderson while opening holes for power backs like Essex Johnson and Pete Johnson.

Mayes reached the peak of his career during a stellar three-year stretch from 1974 through 1976. During those campaigns, he consistently posted double-digit Approximate Value ratings and anchored an offensive line that helped power Cincinnati to an 11-3 record and a playoff berth in 1975. Though voters routinely overlooked him for Pro Bowl honors, his high-level pass protection and stability on the edge placed him among the most effective left tackles in the AFC during the mid-1970s.

He remained a trusted starter through 1978 before finishing his professional journey with a brief final season in Philadelphia in 1979. Mayes started 98 of his 110 games in Cincinnati.