NY Jets continue dream start to 2025 NFL Draft with Mason Taylor pick

The New York Jets are two for two in the 2025 NFL Draft. After locking down the offensive line with Missouri right tackle Armand Membou at No. 7 overall, the Jets followed it up by selecting LSU tight end Mason Taylor with the 42nd pick on Day 2.

It's hard to imagine a better start for a team that came into the draft with clear needs and a plan to fix them. Everything broke the Jets’ way through the first two rounds.

Taylor, widely regarded as one of the top three tight ends in the class and a possible late first-round pick, managed to slip into their hands without the team needing to move up. It is the kind of draft fortune that separates good weekends from great ones, and the Jets are putting together something special.

With Membou and Taylor now in the fold, the Jets have added two high-floor, NFL-ready building blocks to an offense that desperately needed young talent. It has been a picture-perfect start to a pivotal draft, and the work is not finished yet.

Mason Taylor gives the NY Jets a much-needed tight end upgrade

Taylor arrived at LSU known mostly for his last name, but he quickly made a name for himself with his play. The son of Hall of Famer Jason Taylor, he became the most productive tight end in LSU history, setting school records for career receptions and receiving yards at the position.

Taylor was a steady presence in the Tigers’ offense, showcasing his athleticism, reliable hands, and smooth movement skills. Some evaluators even believed he had a chance to sneak into the back half of the first round before the draft.

While Taylor might not be a punishing mauler in the run game, he is a reliable in-line blocker with the athleticism to move defenders and execute assignments in space. He can line up traditionally or flex into the slot, offering a dependable target over the middle and a strong weapon in the red zone.

His body control and ball skills make him a quarterback’s best friend, and his competitiveness shows up both at the catch point and in the run game. For a Jets team desperate for consistent pass-catching production at tight end, Taylor fits exactly what they need.

Taylor joins an extremely lackluster tight end room that was previously headlined by Jeremy Ruckert and Stone Smartt. The 22-year-old is immediately the team's best tight end, both as a blocker and probably as a receiver.

This draft could not be unfolding any better for the Jets. Landing Mason Taylor at 42 only solidifies what is quickly becoming a near-perfect haul for a team that desperately needed to get this weekend right.

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