The New York Jets selected LSU tight end Mason Taylor with the No. 42 overall selection in the second round of this year’s draft. He became the second LSU player taken after Will Campbell went a day earlier in the first round. Now, one of the best tight ends to wear the purple and gold is officially a Jet.
NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe reported the deal is worth $10.46 million over four years with $9.56 million guaranteed, including 60% of Taylor’s fourth-year salary. That’s a 55% bump from last year’s No. 42 pick, as second-round contracts across the league continue to receive more guaranteed money. The threat of holding out, with rookies reporting to camp today, along with Saints rookie QB Tyler Shough landing a fully guaranteed deal only two picks ahead of Taylor, helped get things over the finish line in time.
Taylor’s father, Jason Taylor, had a decorative career in the NFL and sits in the Hall of Fame. He currently serves as a defensive ends coach with Miami. The father-son tandem is the latest in the NFL, with more than 230 other instances.
“I’m fired up,” Taylor said following his selection, per the team website. “It’s exciting, an unreal feeling. I’m kind of still shocked, but I’m excited to go to New York and give this team all I can give with my consistency and my hard work.”
Taylor logged 37 starts in 38 contests and left LSU as the school’s career leader in receptions for a tight end (129) and yards (1,308). His most productive season was in 2024 when he caught 55 passes for 546 yards and two touchdowns. During his three-year career, 72 of Taylor’s receptions resulted in a first down and 701 yards came after the catch, 304 after contact. He closed his career, catching at least one pass in 28 straight games.
The younger Taylor’s combine performance and testing numbers elevated him up draft boards, with many ranking him as the No. 3 tight end in this class. His combination of strength, size and speed is elite, and he has production at the highest level that gave a glimpse of what he will bring to New York.
“He could do it all,” head coach Aaron Glenn said regarding his takeaways from Taylor’s tape. “He can block, he can be a receiving threat. And it’s knowing that his father’s played in this league, being able to pour some of that wisdom on him.”
LSU landed Taylor out of St. Thomas Aquinas in South Florida over the Florida schools, Alabama, and numerous others. The industry-generated 247Sports Composite ranked him a high three-star prospect and No. 24 in the country at his position.
Taylor and the Jets open the preseason schedule on Saturday, Aug. 9, at Green Bay.