2025 Dynasty Rookie Early Look: Mason Taylor, TE LSU
Mason Taylor has the genes of an elite NFL player. His father Jason Taylor, who mostly played defensive end for the Miami Dolphins, is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame as is his uncle Zach Thomas, who also played for the Dolphins as a linebacker.
Taylor has been a part of some explosive LSU offenses during his collegiate career. He has been overshadowed by some outstanding talent that has exploded on the scene in the NFL. There are players with better statistics than Taylor in this draft class that will likely overshadow him, but don’t let that prevent you from drafting an enormous talent in the making. Taylor is a player to keep an eye on as this draft season progresses.
Recruitment
Taylor was a three-star recruit out of prestigious St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He helped lead his high school team to the Florida 7A State Championship. He was a Miami Herald All-Broward County First-Team Selection.
Taylor was a three-star recruit. He was ranked as the TE51 in the nation and the 94th-best player in Florida, despite seeing very few targets in high school. That didn’t stop Taylor from immediately jumping into the starting lineup at LSU as a true freshman.
Collegiate Career
Taylor has been extremely consistent throughout his college career. He immediately made an impact for LSU as a true freshman catching 38 passes for 414 yards and three touchdowns on his way to Freshman All-SEC honors.
He added another 36 catches for 348 yards and one touchdown as a sophomore as the team’s third option behind two explosive wide receivers and eventual NFL first-round draft picks Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. Taylor was a solid option for Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Jayden Daniels, who was eventually drafted second overall in the 2024 NFL Draft by the Washington Commanders.
With a change at QB and with two of the team’s biggest offensive weapons gone to the NFL, Taylor immediately became one of new starting quarterback Garrett Nussmeier’s top options in 2024. Taylor put together his best statistical season of his career with 55 receptions for 546 yards and two touchdowns.
Taylor finished his collegiate career as the most productive tight end in school history. He is the only Tigers’ TE to have over 100 career receptions for more than 1,000 yards.
Strengths
- Soft hands, has natural catching ability
- Has a knack for finding soft spots in zone coverage
- Chain-mover who has a nose for the sticks with the ability to convert in big situations
- Great body control – adjusts well to off-target throws
- Best blocker in the draft among the elite receiving tight ends
Weaknesses
- Could improve drive blocking at the contact point
- Has good speed, but won’t burn defenders deep down the field
- Needs to improve on specific routes instead of improvising to open space
- Needs to learn how to use his athletic traits to create more separation on routes
Draft Value
Courtesy of NFL Mock Draft Database.
In my opinion, Taylor would have been TE1 in the 2026 draft class if he had returned to LSU. But he declared for the draft this year. There are some absolute studs in front of him. Penn State’s Tyler Warren, Michigan’s Colston Loveland, and Bowling Green’s Harold Fannin Jr. All of those players had more impressive statistics and were their teams’ top offensive target. While Taylor didn’t have the stat sheet those players had in 2024, he has crazy potential at the next level.
Taylor is just scratching the surface of his abilities. He is going to be 21 years old on draft day. He is one of the youngest tight ends in this class. At 6-5, 255 pounds, he runs an outstanding 4.6-second 40-yard dash. Taylor is the most complete tight end in this draft class. He can fit in almost any system in the NFL and be productive. He has the ability to be a top receiving tight end, but is also the best blocking tight end among the top end fantasy prospects. He should find himself on the field in any situation at the next level. While he didn’t have great touchdown numbers in college, he has all the traits to be a great red zone threat in the pros.
Taylor is being mocked to various teams in the third round of the NFL Draft, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see him sneak into the second round come April.
Dynasty Outlook
This is an absolutely loaded draft class at tight end. With the last two tight end draft classes there is officially a tight end renaissance in the NFL. To me, Taylor is a younger Sam LaPorta in this draft class. Taylor probably won’t give you an immediate return like LaPorta did for the Lions during his rookie season in 2023. It might take some time for Taylor to hit in the NFL, but he is a player worth waiting on. Believe me, you want to have Taylor in your draft queue. If you miss out on the top three tight ends in this draft, be ready to pull the trigger on Taylor in the late second round or early third round of your dynasty rookie drafts. I don’t think you will be disappointed.
- 2025 Dynasty Rookie Early Look: Mason Taylor, TE LSU - February 1, 2025
- 2025 Dynasty Rookie Early Look: Travis Hunter, WR/CB Colorado - January 31, 2025
- 2025 Dynasty Rookie Early Look: Cam Ward, QB Miami - January 29, 2025
