Mason Taylor’s Journey with the Jets
The Jets made their intentions clear from the start. They picked tight end Mason Taylor from LSU with the 42nd overall selection in the second round.
Taylor quickly caught attention with his impressive blocking skills, honed during his three years playing for the Tigers, where he racked up 129 catches for 1,308 yards and six touchdowns.
At just 21 years old, he emerged as a favorite to be the starting tight end behind veterans Jeremy Ruckert, Stone Smart, and Zach Kuntz. It seemed like a perfect opportunity for him to gain experience during his rookie season.
Being the son of Hall of Famer Jason Taylor, a former Jets defensive star, added an interesting layer to his story.
In his first five games, Taylor was actively involved. He managed to make 20 receptions off 28 targets, totaling 175 yards—averaging about 5.6 targets per game.
However, in the last five games, his role seemed to diminish. He received only 20 targets, converting 14 catches for 101 yards. His average dropped to four targets per game, which included a game against the Patriots where he had four catches for 30 yards.
When asked if he wanted to see more action in the passing game, Taylor graciously acknowledged the team’s focus. “When you score or catch a pass, it’s fun, of course. But winning games is what matters most,” he said. “I trust the coaches to decide how best to utilize my skills for the team.” He mentioned he hadn’t discussed his decreased production with any coaches.
“That’s for the coaches to decide,” he added, perhaps indicating that he’s not overly concerned yet.
While it’s always better to take some action than none, the Jets’ struggling offense—which recently saw a quarterback change after averaging a meager 139.9 passing yards per game—raises questions about why Taylor, an essential player for now and the future, isn’t utilized more.
During a recent interview, coach Aaron Glenn recognized this gap and expressed his intention to get Taylor more involved. “He’s one of our dynamic players,” Glenn explained. “We always plan to get him the ball. Sometimes things happen that he might not get, but we genuinely aim to utilize him, given his skills as both a receiver and a blocker. He’s a crucial part of our offense.”
As for future games, Taylor’s situation may be impacted this week, as backup quarterback Tyrod Taylor might take over for Justin Fields, who was benched. Fields’ inability to spark the offense has likely limited opportunities for Mason Taylor to truly shine in the first ten games.
This season, he has caught 34 passes from 48 targets, accumulating 276 yards and scoring a touchdown during the Jets’ victory over the Bengals in Week 8. “I’m definitely feeling more confident every week,” Taylor reflected. “I think I’m learning from my mistakes and making progress—every week is a chance to improve.”
