When analyzing the Jets offense in its present state, one evident gap stands out. Who precisely would be the group’s different vast receivers in addition to star Garrett Wilson?
The Jets have a gaggle of underwhelming veterans — Allen Lazard, Josh Reynolds and Tyler Johnson — and a few unproven gamers like Malachi Corley, Xavier Gipson and fourth-round decide Arian Smith.
Right here’s one conclusion you possibly can draw: The group’s second receiver may not be a receiver.
Enter Mason Taylor, the tight finish from LSU the Jets drafted within the second spherical.
Taylor seemed good in rookie minicamp and he must be the group’s beginning tight finish within the fall.
Taylor left LSU as the college’s all-time main receiver amongst tight ends with 129 receptions, 1,308 yards and 6 touchdowns.
Jets coach Aaron Glenn mentioned the group has a “clear imaginative and prescient” for a way they may make the most of Taylor on this offense.
“Mason is strictly who we thought he was,” Glenn mentioned throughout final weekend’s rookie camp. “He has dynamic actions. He can actually catch the ball. He did a very good job catching the ball away from his physique. He’s fast to convey it in and get north and south precisely like we wish.”
Taylor involves the Jets with well-known bloodlines.
His father, Jason, was a Corridor of Fame defensive finish who spent one yr with the Jets however most of his profession with the Dolphins. His uncle Zach Thomas was a Corridor of Fame linebacker for the Dolphins.
“There’s excessive expectations, for certain, simply due to the final identify,” Taylor mentioned. “However when folks say, ‘Oh, let him have his shine, cease saying his dad’s identify’ — I imply, I like it. We’re household, him and my Uncle Zach.
“I imply, I wish to be like them, so you possibly can name it ‘of their shadows,’ however I really like modeling my recreation after theirs, their exhausting work. I do know they’re on the protection, however simply their exhausting work and the way they weren’t extremely recruited coming into the NFL — their exhausting work, consistency each single day. I imply, I look as much as these guys, for certain.”
It will likely be attention-grabbing to see simply how a lot the Jets function Taylor.
New Jets offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand comes from the Lions together with Glenn.
Lions tight finish Sam LaPorta was focused 83 occasions final season, the sixth most amongst NFL tight ends.
New Jets quarterback Justin Fields is understood for focusing on the tight finish.
He had good chemistry with Cole Kmet when he was with the Bears, and Taylor might develop into a major goal for him.
Some consider Taylor has loads of room nonetheless to develop after faculty.
He was a part of an LSU offense that appeared to all the time have prime vast receivers from Malik Nabers to Brian Thomas Jr.
It’s comprehensible why Taylor was not a focus of the Tigers offense.
“I wouldn’t say my stats can be higher with out them,” Taylor mentioned. “It was a blessing to play with them, and I might by no means commerce that have for something. I performed with Malik, B.T., Kyren [Lacy] and all these folks. It was an unforgettable expertise, and it’s one thing that’s helped my recreation undoubtedly on the sphere, for certain.”
