The New York Jets are working to build a new culture, and this year marks the first draft under general manager Darren Mougey and head coach Aaron Glenn. One of the team’s most significant needs has been at tight end, as they haven’t had a major threat at the position in years.
That could be changing now, as the Jets drafted LSU Tigers tight end Mason Taylor with the 42nd overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. What makes the story even cooler is that Taylor is the son of former Jets edge rusher and Pro Football Hall of Famer Jason Taylor.
Jason Taylor spent the 2010 season with the Jets, and now his son is hoping to become a key part of the offense, especially in helping free-agent addition Justin Fields during the 2025 season. It’ll be intriguing to see how Mason fits into the Jets’ plans.
What Will Mason Taylor Bring to the New York Jets?
The Jets finished 19th in Offensive+ last year, with a 72.7 grade, according to PFSN. Ian Cummings had Taylor projected to the Chicago Bears at pick No. 41 in his seven-round mock draft. But instead, he landed in New York, and he could make a major impact.
Taylor spent three years at LSU, finishing his college career with 129 receptions for 1,308 yards (10.1 yards per catch) and six touchdowns across 38 games. He became the first tight end in LSU history to record at least 100 catches and 1,000 receiving yards — proof that he could become a security blanket for Fields.
Drafting Taylor also allowed the Jets to address two key needs — adding an offensive weapon and selecting offensive tackle Armand Membou in the first round. Now, Fields will have another reliable option alongside wide receiver Garrett Wilson, while the offensive line should be better equipped to handle run-blocking duties.
Taylor’s presence could be a big boost for Fields, giving him an easy outlet to dump the ball off and avoid taking unnecessary hits. It’ll be interesting to watch how the Jets design their offense with another quality target in the mix.
According to ESPN’s scouting report, Taylor’s pro comp is Zach Ertz — and if Taylor has a career anywhere close to that, the Jets would be thrilled.
ESPN’s Steven Meunch wrote in the same report, “The Jets asked Penn State’s Tyler Warren at times during the process, but they do an excellent job of managing the draft and addressing their needs by getting a tackle at No. 7 and now Taylor at No. 42.”
“Taylor is a plug-and-play starter who gives quarterback Justin Fields a target and has the potential to put up bigger numbers in the NFL than he did in college. Had the Jets taken Warren at seventh overall, they would have had a difficult time addressing offensive tackle in a meaningful way here.”.
