LSU Tigers head coach Brian Kelly had high hopes for his tight end, Mason Taylor. Back in 2022, while the young chap was still a freshman, Kelly called him as good as any freshman tight end he’s ever coached and compared him to Georgia tight end Brock Bowers. Remember what the head coach said? “He’s going to hit like the kid from Georgia hit. We hit a home run.” Well, Kelly was right.

Mason saved his best performance for his final act in Baton Rouge. As the tight end flew off to the NFL, he was selected as the No. 42 overall pick by the New York Jets. Now is it a steal deal for Darren Mougey’s squad? Definitely! And other than Mason carrying a strong resume, they are now on their way to building a father-son legacy as he is the son of Pro Football Hall-of-Famer Jason Taylor. 

The Jets have been a tight-end hungry team this draft season. All thanks to Tyler Conklin, who departed in free agency. And what better option than Mason? After all, the young chap has been the most productive tight end in LSU history.

During the final season, Mason had personal bests in his junior season. He came up with 55 receptions and 546 yards. Over the three seasons in Baton Rouge, he gifted Kelly’s program with 129 receptions for 1,308 yards and six touchdowns. Plus, Mason finished his college career with at least one catch in 28 consecutive games. So, considering his three-year stats, he became the first tight end in school history with 100+ receptions and 1,000+ receiving yards. These numbers definitely played a huge role in catching the Jets’ attention. But in this case, maybe the bloodline speaks louder. 

Right after his commitment to New York, NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo tweeted, “Like father, like son. #Jets select TE Mason Taylor at 42. He heads to Florham Park 15 years after Jason played for the team.” Being the son of Hall of Famer Jason Taylor and the nephew of Hall of Famer Zach Thomas, Mason came off as the sure-shot target for the Jets. So, a pure NFL pedigree!

Jason had spent 14 of his 15 seasons in the pro league in the AFC East. He played for the Dolphins for 13 years and was voted to six Pro Bowls in that span. So, even though he is best known for his tenure with the Dolphins, in 2010, wth the Jets, he recorded 36 total tackles, 25 solo tackles, and 5 sacks. Now, does Mason have enough talent to carry forward his dad’s legacy being a pro?

Yes, Mason Taylor only scored six touchdowns across three seasons for LSU. But his size and frame (6-foot-5, 251 pounds) make him an appealing option for New York’s offense that features quarterback Justin Fields. Plus, he has the necessary footwork/short-area quickness to uncover quickly and offer a passing offense a solid option against zone coverage. Now, if this is not enough, here comes a praise straight from a GOAT, to whom Mason once gave a major ‘OUCH’ moment. 

Mason Taylor gave a 7x natty-winning head coach a major regret

When Mason was a recruit and committed to the LSU Tigers, it gave the then-Alabama head coach Nick Saban some major FOMO. So much so, the Crimson Tide ramped up their pursuit to flip the young chap. Ultimately, they failed to execute their mission. And to this day, Saban calls it the “biggest recruiting mistake” of his tenure. On April 25, on the NFL Draft Day, Saban went on a down memory lane ride. Looking back on Taylor’s recruitment after the New York Jets selected the former LSU star in the draft. 

In the highlights that rolled, Mason came off as the star of the show during one of the games against Alabama, where he scored the overtime winner. And BOOM! It left the Bama tribe shaken up, who had College Football Playoff hopes. On the ABC podcast, Saban shared, “This is the biggest recruiting mistake we ever made. This guy’s the best tight end we had in camp. Here, he beats us and knocks out of the playoffs right here, first play. … I know that he’s got two Pro Bowler DNA – Zach and Jason. We bring the guy in, and we shuffle around on whether we’re going to offer him or not. Then, he commits to LSU, then we try to get him.” So, what makes Mason become the 7x national championship winner’s “favorite?”

Well, Mason Taylor comes off the package as a good player with the right mental makeup. He is equipped with adequate acceleration and the tools to become a more effective route runner in time. When it comes to handling blocking duties on the move or in space, he handles them with ease. Still shy of 21, Mason looks poised to outshine his dad’s legacy and light up NFL stat sheets.