Mason Taylor has been a reliable target for LSU since he arrived on campus and projects well as a sufficient safety valve. Here is a 2025 NFL Draft Early Scouting Report and film analysis on him.
Overview, Film Analysis, and Early 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report of LSU TE Mason Taylor
Measurables:
- 6’5”
- 255 lbs
Player Background:
The son of NFL Hall-of-Fame pass rusher Jason Taylor, Mason Taylor committed to Louisiana State as a three-star recruit in the 2022 cycle. The graduate from St. Thomas Aquinas HS in Florida started for the Tigers almost immediately. He started 13 of the 14 games the Tigers played in his freshman year, catching 38 passes for 414 yards and three scores. He missed a game due to injury in 2023 but was still able to start 12 contests.
Taylor produced a similar campaign to the previous year, snagging just two fewer passes for 348 yards and a touchdown. A junior in 2024, he’s in the midst of his best collegiate season to date. Through 12 games, he’s set career highs in catches with 52 and yards with 518, to go along with two TDs.
Accolades:
- Freshman All-SEC (2022)
- SEC Freshman of the Week vs. Alabama (2022)
- LSU All-Time TE Receptions Leader (2024)
- LSU All-Time TE Receiving Yards Leader (2024)
Strengths/Pros:
Taylor is in the midst of his third season as LSU’s safety blanket and plays his role incredibly well. He has an advanced knowledge of soft spots in the defense, settling down well and making himself open in the short game. He’s a smooth overall mover, drifting out of his releases and gliding around the field. He showcases fluid arm movements on his routes and works through physicality well. His calmness at the catch point is very noticeable, with consistent hands and quick transitions to a ball carrier.
Aside from a few hiccups, his hands are firm on throws away from his body. Taylor steps up in big moments and has a history of being “the guy” when the Tigers need a conversion. He also weaves through defenders with precision after the catch. He seeks out assignments swiftly as a blocker and surrounds defenders with his arms. His overall upper body technique is stout when blocking, keeping containment often.
Weaknesses/Cons:
The biggest concern with Taylor’s future is how much he can develop and improve. He’s a very straightforward prospect and seems to be a mostly complete product. He doesn’t have high-end straight-line speed and won’t threaten defenses vertically. He’s not very explosive in any aspect of the game. There are persistent struggles with separating in man coverage, and he heavily relies on identifying already-open space to succeed. His route cuts aren’t very sharp and doesn’t accelerate through them.
He doesn’t bring a lot of power as a blocker and has issues with getting driven out of his anchor. Taylor has much less functional strength than most of the defenders he faces, leading to him getting moved off his spot. He struggles to adjust to speed rushers on the outside and lets them get by him too much. His problems as a blocker can bleed into the passing game, showing inconsistencies in getting off of blocks to rotate out as a receiver.
Potential Team Fits:
NFL Projection:
Taylor’s floor as an NFL player is decently high, with few glaringly concerning issues that would make him a liability. He should be coveted in systems that value safety valves, and he has the strengths in the short-passing game to provide worth. Taylor could become a starting TE with a blocking-specific TE2 next to him, giving an offense consistent receiving production. There are plenty of pathways that coordinators can take to make him a legitimate weapon, and he should thrive as a dependable target.
Prospect Grade:
- Early 4th Round
Film Exposures:
- 2024 vs. South Carolina
- 2024 vs. Ole Miss
- 2024 vs. USC
Main Image: Stephen Lew – USA Today Sports
