Jets' latest Mason Taylor admission means even less than you think

The New York Jets released their first unofficial depth chart of the summer on Sunday, and it didn't take long for fans to notice a few interesting takeaways. One such takeaway involved rookie tight end Mason Taylor.

A second-round pick in this year's NFL Draft, Taylor is widely expected to step in as the Jets' starting tight end to begin the season. That's why many were admittedly confused to see his name listed behind the incumbent Jeremy Ruckert on the Jets' depth chart.

Taylor was one of a number of rookies buried on the Jets' unofficial depth chart, with mid-round rookies Arian Smith, Azareye'h Thomas, and Tyler Baron all listed as third-stringers entering August.

A level of concern is fair given the expectations the Jets have for Taylor in 2025, but the good news is that this depth chart placement probably means even less than you realize. In fact, it means absolutely nothing at all.

Don't read into Mason Taylor's Jets depth chart placement

Unofficial summer depth charts are exactly what they sound like — unofficial. They’re assembled not by the coaching staff, but by the team’s communications department, often with little to no input from anyone making actual football decisions.

These charts are mostly for media purposes and follow a predictable formula of deferring to returning veterans to leave things as vanilla as possible. That’s why rookies, no matter how promising, are rarely slotted into starting spots this early.

Jets fans have seen this before. Back in the summer of 2022, the Jets listed Bryce Hall as a starting cornerback ahead of then-rookie Sauce Gardner on their initial depth chart. Within weeks, Gardner was not only the clear starter but on his way to an All-Pro season.

That depth chart meant nothing, just like this one. These early lists aren’t reflective of performance or projection — they’re place-holders. The true depth chart is built on the practice field, not on a spreadsheet in July.

In Taylor’s case, being listed behind Ruckert is par for the course. Ruckert is a returning player with three years in the league. Of course he’s listed ahead of a rookie who hasn’t even played a preseason snap yet.

But don’t mistake this clerical nod for any sort of coaching decision. Taylor is still very much in the mix, and if he continues to impress in camp, the actual depth chart will reflect that soon enough.

The LSU product has been one of the early stars of Jets training camp, quickly establishing chemistry with his new quarterback, Justin Fields. The Jets very much expect Taylor to not only be the team's starting tight end but to play an important role in their offense this season.

That doesn't mean Ruckert won't see his fair share of snaps as well, and you might even see hybrid receiving threat Stone Smartt thrown into the mix. But this is Mason Taylor's tight end room, regardless of what the team's meaningless unofficial summer depth chart might indicate.

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