The Kenyon Sadiq hype has overshadowed a key Jets building block

Kenyon Sadiq — the subject of yesterday's countdown article — might be the most exciting young tight end on the Jets roster. He also might not be the best one, at least in the present.

Day 23 of your 2026 New York Jets Camp Countdown belongs to the LSU Legacy Project, the Son of a Hall of Famer, Mason Impossible, and perhaps the most overlooked building block in the Jets offense...it's Mason Taylor.

Listen, the excitement surrounding Sadiq is understandable. The Jets spent the 16th overall pick on one of the most athletic tight end prospects to ever enter the NFL. Omar Cooper Jr. has also garnered plenty of attention as another first-round addition to this pass-catching corps.

But somewhere along the way, Taylor has become a bit of an afterthought. That feels strange considering he just turned 22 years old and is coming off a rookie season that was far better than many fans seem to believe.

The Jets drafted another top-50 tight end this past spring, but that doesn't mean Mason Taylor stopped being part of the plan moving forward.

1. Where Mason Taylor stands entering Jets training camp
2. Mason Taylor was better as a rookie than many fans seem to realize
3. What would make 2026 a success for Mason Taylor
4. Recent 2026 Camp Countdown Breakdowns

Where Mason Taylor stands entering Jets training camp

Taylor enters training camp as the Jets' projected (de facto?) starting tight end. That may surprise some fans who have spent the last few months dreaming about Sadiq's upside, but Taylor has already proven he can contribute at the NFL level.

The LSU product finished with 44 catches for 369 yards and a touchdown despite playing in one of the league's least productive passing offenses. His 44 receptions ranked among the top five rookie tight ends in the NFL.

The goal for the Jets in 2026 will be to maximize both Taylor and Sadiq. The former projects as more of a traditional in-line tight end, while the latter offers versatility as a move piece and big slot option

Offensive coordinator Frank Reich will have to get creative, especially with Garrett Wilson, Adonai Mitchell, Omar Cooper Jr., and Breece Hall all demanding touches as well. Fortunately, that's a good — and unfamiliar — problem for the Jets to have.

The Jets suddenly have one of the deeper young collections of pass catchers in the NFL, and Taylor remains an integral part of that group.

Mason Taylor was better as a rookie than many fans seem to realize

Part of the problem with the way Taylor's rookie season has been discussed is perception. In an era where the likes of Brock Bowers and Tyler Warren have immediately become stars, fans have started expecting every rookie tight end to dominate right away.

But that's just not how the position works historically. Tight end notoriously has one of the steepest development curves of any position in the sport. With that in mind, Taylor's rookie season was perfectly fine and even encouraging.

One area where he particularly impressed was in contested-catch situations. Taylor hauled in 11 of his 14 contested targets, good for a remarkable 78.6 percent contested-catch rate. That ranked second among all NFL tight ends with at least 50 targets behind only George Kittle.

When the ball was in the air and a defender was nearby, Taylor consistently found a way to come down with it. Perhaps those contested-catch numbers shouldn't be surprising.

Taylor posted 28 reps on the bench press at his LSU Pro Day, a mark that would have ranked second among all tight ends at the NFL Combine. He may not wow scouts with his agility and change of direction, but he has more than enough play strength, and that showed up repeatedly on tape last year.

I think it's also fair to say that Taylor exceeded expectations as a blocker. One of the concerns about him coming out of LSU was that he may not be able to consistently hold up as an in-line tight end in the NFL. But Taylor looked more comfortable in that role than expected and improved as the season progressed.

His 63.1 Pro Football Focus run-blocking grade actually surpassed the 59.1 mark he posted in his final college season. More importantly, his three highest single-game run-blocking grades came during the final six games of the year.

He wasn't spectacular in any one area. He was simply good at a lot of things. That makes for an encouraging rookie season.

What would make 2026 a success for Mason Taylor

Taylor's path to success in 2026 looks very different from Sadiq's. While Sadiq's season will be more so judged on flashes and long-term development, Taylor's season should be judged on production.

It's reasonable to expect a jump from his rookie numbers with improved quarterback play and a better offensive environment. A season in the range of 50 to 60 catches and 500-plus receiving yards feels attainable if he continues progressing.

The Jets are hoping for Taylor to become a reliable every-down player who helps provide a safety blanket for Geno Smith and doubles as a capable in-line blocker. That's the role he appears to be built for.

Mason Taylor may never become the explosive athletic marvel that Kenyon Sadiq is, but he doesn't need to be. What he can become is the type of dependable, well-rounded tight end every successful offense needs.

While everyone is busy dreaming about what Sadiq could become, don't be surprised if Taylor remains the most productive tight end on the Jets roster in 2026.

Recent 2026 Camp Countdown Breakdowns

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