Scouting Profile: Mason Taylor - TE - LSU
Sales Pitch: Athletic tight end with fluid movement skills and the upside to be a solid blocker if he can get his technique in order.
*Gold Numbers Indicate NCAA T-25 for 2024*
Scouting Report
Mason Taylor is a former 4-Star recruit from the state of Florida. The son of Jason Taylor and nephew of Zach Thomas, he comes from rich NFL bloodlines. Taylor was a 3 year starter for LSU, appearing in 38 games and receiving All-SEC honors in 2024.
Taylor is a fluid mover with the requisite size to be a starting modern day NFL tight end. He was a consistent contributor for the Tiger, with a catch in 28 straight games and at least 35 catches and 300 yards in all three seasons. Taylor is a dependable pass catcher with big soft hands that attack the ball away from his frame. He is easily able to adjust his frame to secure errant throws and shows good concentration in traffic. Taylor is his best as a separator over the middle of the field on seams and crossers. He easily gets in and out of breaks for a player of his size to create space at the top of his routes. He displays an excellent stair-step move to get man coverage defenders off his upfield shoulder when working horizontally. Taylor is a good blocker in space with the athletic ability to work across as a slide blocker and attacking DBs in space. He displays the foot quickness to mirror smaller players and stay attached. His inline blocking is still a work in progress, but he has the frame and flexibility to grow into a solid player in that aspect.
Taylor is a smooth athlete but not particularly explosive. He lacks burst out of his stance and breaks as a route runner, which will limit his upside as a play maker. He also struggles to generate much impact after the catch unless it is schemed into the play. Taylor’s lack of explosion and short arms prevent him from consistently winning in jump ball scenarios as well. He is routinely out jumped and out physicaled by smaller players down the field. The biggest aspect of Taylors’ game he must improve to be an impact player at the next level is his blocking technique. His pad level is too high out of his stance and limits his ability to drive defenders off the ball. His hands attach wide and outside the shoulder pads on first contact allowing defenders to slip out of his grasp. For a player with average strength and shorter arms, poor technique is not an option if he wants to operate as the lone TE on the field.
Taylor profiles as a Y in 3-WR sets, who can play some F with 2 TEs on the field. He is not an overwhelming athlete but his fluid route running, dependable hands and blocking upside give him the ceiling of a solid TE1. Taylor projects as an Day-2 pick with a shot to be the first TE off the board among the Tier-2 options.