Mason Taylor Scouting Report
By: Michael Higgins
(Image courtesy of Jonathan Mailhes)
School: LSU
Class: Junior
Position: TE
HT: 6’5
WT: 255 lbs
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Background: Mason Taylor is the son of NFL Hall of Fame DE Jason Taylor. Mason is also the nephew of Hall of Fame linebacker Zach Thomas. Originally from Plantation, Florida, Taylor was a 3-star tight end for St. Thomas Aquinas High School. Mason was all-district first team as a senior. Mason chose to play for LSU over Pittsburgh, Florida, and Texas A&M.
College: Mason had a prolific true freshman campaign in 2022. He started 13 games for the Tigers, finishing with 38 receptions and 414 yards. He was a Freshman All-SEC selection and was SEC All-Academic. Mason had a similar season in 2023, but set career highs in 2024. As a junior, Taylor finished with 55 receptions for 546 yards. Can play slot just as well as in-line TE. Safety net in the shallow areas. Strength at the point of attack. Looks ball in before turning up field.
Strengths: Mason Taylor is one of the most athletic tight ends in the class. He moves well despite being a more densely built player. He is impressive with his cuts and can change direction very easily. He has excellent body control, not only throughout his routes, but at the catch point. He is able to turn his body in any direction to get around and make a play on the football. He displays an incredible football IQ in the middle of the field, where he is able to find open space in zone coverage. Taylor is a huge target for a quarterback with ideal measurables. He provides a large catch radius with sure hands to be the ultimate safety net for a quarterback. He is strong at the catchpoint and can go up to snag the football no matter how good the coverage is. Taylor is effective on the line of scrimmage but is best utilized in the slot where he can take advantage of matchups and burst off the line.
Weaknesses: Mason Taylor is an effective pass catcher, but he struggles to hold his own as a run blocker. He can throw his body around for a chip block, but he does not win 1-on-1 matchups with any consistency. It would be nice to see Taylor attack the seams more than he does. He seems too comfortable in the shorter areas of the field. He does not have elite speed to take the top off the defense.
Conclusion: Mason Taylor has the athletic profile of a player who can make an instant difference for a passing offense in the NFL. He provides reliable hands and a player who can be schemed open in a variety of ways. He is best suited in an offense that attacks those shallow areas with tight ends and running backs consistently.
Scheme Fit: 12 personnel
Ideal Role: Y TE
Best Team Fits: LAC, CIN, IND
Player Comparison: TJ Hockenson
Player Grade: Round 3 (77.3)
