The Jets used their second-round pick in this year’s draft to select Mason Taylor, a tight end from LSU, with hopes that the rookie can quickly become a key part of the offense.
Taylor made his mark as a pass catcher at LSU, routinely finding open space and drawing plenty of targets in the Tigers’ system. In his final college season, he totaled 546 receiving yards and two touchdowns on 55 receptions, a stat line that cements his reputation as one of LSU’s most productive tight ends.
With depth at tight end behind him limited, Taylor is poised to step in as the Jets’ top option at the position. He can serve as a reliable safety valve for the offense, giving quarterback Justin Fields a dependable check-down when the primary reads are covered. The team envisions using him in a variety of ways—dropping him into routes on play-action, running routes while remaining active as a blocker, and creating mismatches in coverage once he fully rounds into an NFL-ready blocker.
Early indications from camp suggest Taylor has carried his college success into the pros, and a breakout year could be on the horizon as he continues to develop his run-blocking proficiency. If he continues to progress, he could become a versatile weapon in multiple formations and help unlock more of the offense’s potential.
What to watch going forward: how quickly he improves as a blocker, how the Jets deploy two-tight-end sets, and how smoothly he translates his LSU receiving prowess to the NFL’s faster, more physical game.
Additional notes for editors: This pick could help the Jets diversify their passing concepts, especially in play-action and quick-throw ideas, while also stressing defenses with size and reliability over the middle. A strong rookie season from Taylor would be a meaningful lift for a Jets offense looking to balance ground and air attack.