Nick Saban proves why Jets got an absolute gem in Mason Taylor

The NY Jets already started off the Aaron Glenn and Darren Mougey era on the right foot by selecting Missouri right tackle Armand Membou with the No. 7 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, and it took them all of one pick in the second round to keep the momentum riding high.

With the No. 42 overall pick, the Jets selected LSU tight end Mason Taylor. The son of former Jets pass rusher and Dolphins Hall of Famer Jason Taylor, Mason will likely compete with Jeremy Ruckert and Stone Smartt for the starting tight end job during his rookie season.

Going to LSU, Taylor was able to make a name for himself against legendary Alabama coach Nick Saban. The greatest coach to ever do it in the collegiate ranks, Saban put forth a strong testimonial that could get Jets fans even more excited about what he brings to the table.

Saban said that losing Taylor to LSU was "the biggest recruiting mistake we ever made," as he let Taylor go to an SEC rival that beat up on him regularly during his final days in Tuscaloosa. Taylor will now continue to wreck defenses in the pros if he assimilates well into New York's offense.

Nick Saban praising Mason Taylor is what Jets fans will want to hear

Taylor is a very reliable player. While he doesn't have jaw-dropping athletic ability or the blocking skill that will get fans excited about the possibility of running behind him, he does a little bit of everything at the tight end position and comes into the NFL without many glaring holes.

Taylor will likely be able to win the starting job right away, as the biggest competition he has is the disappointing Ruckert and a limited career backup recently signed in free agency in Smartt.

Taylor has proven to be such a weapon at the collegiate level that Saban, who has missed out on hundreds of top recruits in his time, labeled Taylor as the one that got away he always thinks about. That should speak volumes about the type of rare talent the Jets have landed.