Latest news with #MasonTaylor
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Jets Rookie Gets Rave Review From Rival Coach
Jets Rookie Gets Rave Review From Rival Coach originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The New York Jets needed a boost at the tight end position, and that led the franchise to draft LSU stud Mason Taylor in the second round. Advertisement Coming to a tight end room with Jeremy Ruckert and Stone Smartt, Taylor has every chance to be the Week 1 starter if he can prove he is up to the task. More known for his blocking than pass-catching ability, Taylor has all the tools that Aaron Glenn is looking for, and with the Jets wanting to be a run-first football team, there is a place on the field waiting for he's good enough. For ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, he spoke to an anonymous NFC offensive coach, who had a glowing endorsement for Taylor. "Jets selecting TE Mason Taylor at No. 42: 'He's (expletive) awesome," the offensive coach said. "He was my No. 2 tight end (behind Chicago's Colston Loveland). He's athletic, he's young (21), and he's got upside in the passing game." © SCOTT CLAUSE/USA TODAY Network / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images So, hopes are high for what Taylor can do in his rookie season. Advertisement Mason has already been seen catching touchdown passes from Justin Fields at OTAs and minicamp, so it appears he is settling in quite well to Tanner Engstrand's offense. Yes, it's against the air, but Mason is showing the potential to not only be a good blocker for the offense but to be a genuine passing option for Fields. With only Garrett Wilson seen as a genuine threat, having Taylor working the underneath routes to help keep the chains moving could be the ace up Engstrand's sleeve. Once training camp begins, we will be able to truly evaluate Taylor as a member of this offense, but one NFC coach already seems sold. Advertisement Related: Jets' Aaron Glenn/Justin Fields Tandem Labeled 'Ideal Match' Related: Jets Sign UFL 'Thiccer Kicker' For Training Camp Competition This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 19, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
New York Jets' TEs Blocking Excites HC Aaron Glenn
New York Jets' TEs Blocking Excites HC Aaron Glenn originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The tight end position can often be one of the most under-appreciated in football. It's a special skill set to be able to both block and be a threat in the receiving game, and great teams know it. The New York Jets made a couple of additions at tight end this offseason, fortifying the position. Advertisement The Jets signed Stone Smartt in free agency, and then drafted Mason Taylor in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft. With the departure of Tyler Conklin in free agency, the Jets had a lot of question marks coming into the offseason at the position. Taylor has made several impressive plays in OTAs, but perhaps more importantly, has been praised from head coach Aaron Glenn for his blocking ability. "I think he's been doing an outstanding job in that aspect," Glenn said. "And it's not just the pass catching, because that's what you guys see, that's what you guys really think is an aha moment, but it's the blocking to me is what really gets me going. "Because I know what he can do in the passing game, but for him to come out and do the things he's doing in the run game, even though you can't do a lot of running because it's not a physical part of the season, but him understanding exactly what he's supposed to do and the position, the body language, the leverage, all those things, man I really love that when it comes to the run game." Advertisement Outside of the new Jet additions, New York also has Jeremy Ruckert, the team's third-round selection in the 2022 NFL Draft. Ruckert has largely served as the TE2 for the Jets in his career. Prior to the draft, general manager Darren Mougey had belief in Ruckert, and was excited about adding Smartt. "Ruckert could take the next step," Mougey said. "Feel good about adding Stone Smartt. He's an athletic guy with some upside." Glenn also has high hopes for Ruckert, who is paired with a few former college teammates. "That's another player that I think he's improved quite a bit," Glenn said. "That's another player, actually, that I had a chance to talk with face-to-face and told him about the things that he needs to improve on. He wants to be good. He comes from a really good program [Ohio State], and we have a number of guys [QB Justin Fields, WR Garrett Wilson, C Josh Myers] from that program. And I've stressed him pretty hard throughout this camp because I think there's a lot of meat on the bone with that player. Good size, long arms. I think he can help us in the passing game. Obviously, he's going to be a really good blocker for us, but there's some technical things that he had to improve on, and he's doing everything he can to improve on those things." Advertisement Related: Ex Jets Linebacker Arrested In Florida Related: Aaron Rodgers' Decision Could Have Unexpected Jets Trade Impact This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 7, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
17-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Todd McShay: Rookie TE Mason Taylor is perfect for Jets' Justin Fields
Todd McShay: Rookie TE Mason Taylor is perfect for Jets' Justin Fields Tight end was a pressing need for the New York Jets and general manager Darren Mougey entering the 2025 draft. So much so that they were mocked to take a tight end as high as seventh overall by numerous outlets. The Jets ended up taking offensive tackle Armand Membou with the seventh pick, and they still managed to get one of the best tight end prospects in the class, Mason Taylor, with their second-round pick (No. 42). NFL draft analyst Todd McShay is one who praised the team for making the Taylor selection. He recently spoke on the fit between Taylor and the Jets on 'The McShay Show'. "[The Jets] absolutely need it," he said. "And with that quarterback situation, you need security over the middle of the field... and Mason Taylor's perfect for Justin Fields." While Taylor is still developing, and the Jets' QB situation is a bit up in the air with Fields prepping to play for his third team in three years, every indication is that the rookie will get an early chance to be the starting tight end in New York. McShay's co-host on the show, Steve Muench, also likes Taylor's game. He envisions a big role for Taylor in New York. "Mason Taylor is TE1 for the Jets," Muench said. "He's ready to go. The way LSU used him is borderline frustrating. They didn't do enough with him, in my opinion." "I think when you get him to the pros, he's going to be a far more productive pro," he continued. "You look at that skillset, you look at that frame, and I think he's gonna take off if they can get him the ball." Taylor has strong NFL roots in his DNA, with both his father and uncle being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as members of the Miami Dolphins, As the son of Jason Taylor and the nephew of Zach Thomas, it's no surprise that the rookie is both physically and mentally ready to contribute at the NFL level. With veterans Tyler Conklin (former Jets starting TE) and Davante Adams departing in free agency this offseason, almost 200 targets will need to be replaced in the offense. A big opportunity awaits Taylor. As a junior, in his final season of college, Taylor recorded career-highs on catches (55) and receiving yards (546), which was good enough for a third-team selection in the daunting SEC.
New York Times
14-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Which 2025 NFL Draft picks are the best values, according to ‘The Beast'?
The 2025 NFL Draft class was pretty difficult to sort once you got beyond the top 10, and a number of very talented players fell down the board for one reason or another. Some (Shedeur Sanders) slid further than expected; others (Mason Taylor) only endured a slight wait. Either way, as always, there were steals to be had during draft weekend. Using Dane Brugler's 'The Beast' as a guide, here's a look at some of our favorites from this year's draft: Beast rank: No. 34 (first-/second-round grade) There were legitimate reasons for Sanders' slide, to be sure. But there's little sense arguing that a player of his ability isn't a possible steal in the middle of Round 5 — plenty of even his most vocal critics thought he was a top-100 player in this draft class. Cleveland's QB situation is a mess (and taking Dillon Gabriel in the third round was one of the draft's biggest reaches), but there could be real value here. Beast rank: No. 74 (second-/third-round grade) This was one of the deepest running back classes we've seen in years, so someone was bound to slide down the board — Sampson and Trevor Etienne (pick No. 114) likely wouldn't have made it beyond Day 2 in previous classes. The newest Browns back, Sampson is small (5-foot-8, 199 pounds) and light on experience, but he scored a touchdown once every 12 carries at Tennessee. Beast grade: No. 42 (second-round grade) The smaller of Iowa State's dynamic receiver duo, the 5-10, 194-pound Noel was an elite tester (4.39-second 40-yard dash, 41 1/2-inch vertical, broad jump of 11 feet, 2 inches) and plays much bigger than his frame. Also a kick returner, Noel had nearly 3,000 career receiving yards in college and made 13 contested catches last year — just one fewer than 6-4 former teammate Jayden Higgins. Beast rank: No. 90 (third-round grade) One of the few true X receivers in this class, Ayomanor (6-2, 206) ran a 4.44 40 and posted a 38 1/2-inch vertical at the combine. He also measured in with nearly 33-inch arms at his pro day, after a very productive final two years at Stanford (125 catches, 1,844 yards, 12 TD). His slight dip in production last season ultimately might have contributed to his draft slide, but this was a very nice add for Cam Ward and company. Advertisement Beast rank: No. 33 (first-/second-round grade) Some evaluators believed Taylor would be the third tight end taken in the first round; the Jets got him in the middle of the second. The draft's youngest prospect and LSU's all-time leader among tight ends in catches and receptions, Taylor could be an instant impact performer this season. Beast rank: No. 81 (third-round grade) Not unlike what Detroit was able to do last year by selecting Christian Mahogany in the sixth round, the Lions late in the draft landed an extremely physical and experienced guard who might be ready for a job immediately. Detroit's offensive line was already one of the league's best, and it got better on draft weekend. Beast rank: No. 84 (third-round grade) Mbow and Frazier are two of the best value picks in the draft, period. Mbow (6-4, 302) is athletic enough to play tackle or guard in the NFL and stood out as one of the best interior athletes in this class. He's a possible day-one contributor for the Giants. Beast grade: No. 57 (second-round grade) Many were down on this center class overall, and this is a position group known for slipping in the draft, but New England found terrific value in Wilson either way. A terrific mover with gigantic hands and great play strength, Wilson might be able to earn a starting job during training camp. Beast rank: not ranked in top 100; No. 9 guard (fourth-round grade) Rivers was hardly the best athlete in this year's O-line class, but he definitely sports versatility. A 6-6, 319-pounder with 35 1/4-inch arms, Rivers has true guard/tackle capability and even took some snaps at center during the Senior Bowl. This was good value for a possible utility man up front. Advertisement Beast rank: not ranked in top 100; No. 5 center (fourth-/fifth-round grade) Another versatile interior lineman who likely will play center at the next level, the 6-3, 311-pound Jackson more than held his own inside at the Senior Bowl, then ran a 5.01 40 and posted a 28 1/2-inch vertical jump at the combine. He's a very explosive player and might have a chance early in Tennessee. Beast rank: No. 100 (third-round grade) There were some 'coachability' concerns surrounding Swinson, which likely played a role in his slide. But the 6-4, 255-pounder blends great length with explosion and quickness, both as a pass rusher and run defender. If he can prove those off-field worries wrong, this could be a steal. Beast rank: No. 58 (second-round grade) The biggest knocks on Sawyer were his subpar measurables (31 3/4-inch arms) and the lack of bend or nuance in his pass-rush plan. However, not many defenders in this class played with more passion or effort than Sawyer, who always seemed to find a way to make an impact for the national champion Buckeyes. Beast grade: No. 76 (third-round grade) A versatile — and gigantic — interior presence, Farmer (6-3, 305 with 35-inch arms) flashed elite power and explosion during his two years as a starter at Florida State. Consistency was a problem at times, but he moves like a man at least 30 pounds lighter. Beast rank: not ranked in top 100; No. 16 DT (third-/fourth-round grade) One of the most explosive defensive linemen in the class, Phillips (31-inch vertical) was downright dominant at times during the Shrine Bowl and was known in college as a workhorse, both on the field and in the weight room. He lacks length and doesn't have much of a rush plan, but his raw ability is outstanding. Advertisement Beast rank: No. 99 (third-/fourth-round grade) A four-year starter at Oregon, Bassa has average size but elite explosion and above-average speed as an inside linebacker capable of playing either off-ball spot in just about any scheme. A very rangy player with good coverage and rush potential, Bassa was a basketball player turned safety/receiver in high school, and he still moves like he's on the hardwood. Beast rank: not ranked in top 100; No. 7 LB (third-/fourth-round grade) An undersized linebacker, Paul (6-0, 222 with 29 7/8-inch arms) nonetheless showed plenty of twitch and IQ in the middle of Ole Miss' defense last season, after beginning his career at Arkansas. A former running back (and shortstop), Paul should prove to be a great value because of his quickness and nose for the ball. Beast rank: not ranked in top 100; No. 5 LB (third-/fourth-round grade) A three-year starter for Kirby Smart at Georgia, Mondon's length and speed at 6-2, 224 turned him into a heavy producer inside one of the country's most talented defensive units. Mondon, who has dealt with several injuries, is a leader and one of the most vocal defenders in this class. Beast rank: No. 18 (first-/second-round grade) If you turn Johnson's 2023 tape on, you'll see one of the best overall players in the 2025 class. Injuries and a lack of elite speed caused his slide, but he could turn into the steal of this draft, if he's healthy. Big, rangy and smart, Johnson scored more touchdowns on defense (3) than he allowed in coverage at Michigan (2). Beast grade: not ranked in top 100; No. 13 CB (fourth-round grade) A physical corner with five years of starting experience at Virginia Tech, Strong is more of an average athlete with size to match (6-1, 185, 30 7/8-inch arms). His savvy in man or zone coverage, however, makes up for quite a bit. Also a very good run defender, Strong has the football instincts that could earn him a rotational spot in Buffalo. Beast rank: No. 17 (first-/second-round grade) Arguably the best overall athlete in the 2025 NFL Draft, the 6-3, 220-pound Emmanwori (4.38 40, 43-inch vertical jump, 11-6 broad jump) looks like a linebacker, runs like a corner and makes plays like a hybrid safety. He can be too aggressive at times, but once the pro game slows down for him, his elite potential could make him a versatile chess piece in the secondary. Beast rank: No. 54 (second-round grade) A lack of size or elite testing marks likely pushed Watts further down the board than we expected, but there are reasons he didn't fall out of the top 100. A former wide receiver who moved to safety at Notre Dame, Watts turned into a total ballhawk in South Bend (he also played some linebacker), and he will have serious playmaking potential as a box safety in the NFL. (Illustration: Will Tullos / The Athletic; Photos: Michael Allio, James Gilbert, Ken Murray / Getty Images)
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
How many LSU football players were picked in 2024 NFL Draft? See every selection
BATON ROUGE — LSU football is growing its list of players selected in the 2025 NFL Draft this weekend in Green Bay, Wisconsin. In the leadup to the three-day event, there were as many as eight LSU players predicted to come off the board. Left tackle Will Campbell has steadily been the top prospect coming on this this draft class for the Tigers, with some projections having him drafted as high as the No. 4 overall pick and as low as the No. 13 pick in the first round. Advertisement This year's crop of draft picks won't challenge LSU's largest class — LSU had 14 players selected in 2020. LSU PRO DAY LSU Football Pro Day: Get heights, weights, measurements for Tigers football players here LSU PRO DAY LSU Football Pro Day: Get 40-yard dash, bench press, drill results for Tigers players here Here's what you need to know about each of the LSU football players picked in the 2025 NFL Draft. LT Will Campbell: New England Patriots, first round (Fourth overall) Will Campbell went fourth overall to the Patriots. Campbell was a multi-time All-American during his three years at LSU. He's been projected as the top offensive line prospect in this year's draft and came off the board as such. TE Mason Taylor: New York Jets, second round (42nd overall) Mason Taylor went 42nd overall to New York. Advertisement The son of one Pro Football Hall of Famer and the nephew of another, Taylor played in 38 games over three seasons with the Tigers, racking up over 1,300 receiving yards. OT Emery Jones: Baltimore Ravens, third round (91st overall) Emery Jones Jr. went 91st overall to Baltimore. A Baton Rouge native, Jones was named an All-SEC performer on the offensive line in both 2023 and 2024 for LSU. DE Sai'vion Jones: Denver Broncos, third round (101st overall) Sai'vion Jones went 101st overall to Denver. The Broncos traded up with the Philadelphia Eagles to acquire the defensive lineman, who made 11.5 sacks in his college career. DE Bradyn Swinson: New England Patriots, fifth round (146th overall) Bradyn Swinson went 146th overall to New England. Advertisement A transfer from Oregon, Swinson spent his last two college seasons with the Tigers. In 2024, he was an All-SEC performer after leading LSU with 8.5 sacks. OL Miles Frazier: Detroit Lions, fifth round (171st overall) Miles Frazier went 171st overall to Detroit. Frazier was a Freshman All-America selection in 2021 for FIU. After transferring to the Tigers, he started 39 games over three seasons. OL Garrett Dellinger: Baltimore Ravens, seventh round (243rd overall) Garrett Dellinger went 243rd overall to Baltimore. The fourth different offensive lineman to be drafted this year, Dellinger is the second to go to the Ravens, joining third-round pick Emery Jones Jr. LSU football undrafted free agents Here's a list of potential undrafted free agents who could sign with NFL teams: Advertisement S Major Burns DT Gio Paez LB Greg Penn III DL Paris Shand RB Josh Williams Largest LSU football draft classes 2020 — 14 draft picks 2022 — 10 draft picks 2013, 2014 — 9 draft picks each LSU SPRING SCRIMMAGE TAKEAWAYS Pass rush shines as LSU football conducts open practice. Here are seven takeaways BRIAN KELLY ON JOINT PRACTICES LSU football coach Brian Kelly 'open' to joint spring practices against different team Cory Diaz covers the LSU Tigers for The Daily Advertiser as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his Tigers coverage on Twitter: @ByCoryDiaz. Got questions regarding LSU athletics? Send them to Cory Diaz at bdiaz@ This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: LSU football in 2025 NFL Draft: Every pick, undrafted free agents
