Mason Taylor TE LSU | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
Mason Taylor TE LSU
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| ROLE: Inline Receiving TE | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 08/28/2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 40 time: 4.64 seconds (82%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Age: 20.3 DOB: 05/08/2004 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| ROLE: Inline Receiving TE | |
| Last Updated: 08/28/2024 | |
| Draft Year: 2025 | |
| 40 time: 4.64 seconds (82%*) | |
| Age: 20.3 DOB: 05/08/2004 | |
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| Overall Rating: | 82.1 / 100 | |
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| Average rating of opposition Defense player has faced | ||
| Defense Rating: |
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76% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| QB Rating When targeted: | 84.1 | |
| Hands: |
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74% |
| Short Receiving: |
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74% |
| Intermediate Routes: |
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70% |
| Deep Threat: |
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61% |
| Blocking: |
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70% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
6th
Overall Rank:
#176
Position rank:
#10
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| College Games: 26 College Snaps: 1532 | ||
ESPN RATING: 77/100
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247 RATING: 86/100
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RIVALS RATING: 5.8 (95%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Josh Whyle - Cincinnati |
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91% |
| AJ Barner - Michigan |
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88% |
| Cole Turner - Nevada |
|
83% |
Draft Profile: Bio
Mason Taylor comes from a football family, with his father Jason and uncle Zach Thomas both in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He made an immediate impact at LSU, starting 13 games as a true freshman in 2022. Taylor finished his freshman season with 38 receptions for 414 yards, ranking second all-time for LSU tight ends in a single season. He continued his productivity as a sophomore in 2023, recording 36 catches for 348 yards.Taylor's college career was marked by clutch performances, including a game-winning two-point conversion catch against Alabama in 2022. He earned Freshman All-SEC honors and was named SEC Freshman of the Week for his performance against the Crimson Tide. Taylor has been a consistent target, catching a pass in 16 straight games. His 74 career receptions rank fourth among all tight ends in LSU history.
Off the field, Taylor has excelled academically, earning spots on the SEC Academic Honor Roll in both his freshman and sophomore years. He's majoring in management and has shown the ability to balance athletic and academic demands at a high level.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Soft mitts with natural pass-catching ability, plucks the ball out of the air with confidence
- High football acumen, consistently finds the soft spots in zone and adjusts stem based on coverage reads
- Alignment-versatile chess piece, can flex out or play in-line to create favorable matchups
- Silky smooth mover with plus body control, adjusts well to off-target throws and high-points effectively
- Reliable in the combat zone, uses frame well to box out and win 50/50 balls
- Chain-mover with a nose for the sticks, consistently converts in critical situations
- YAC threat with good contact balance, consistently falls forward and runs through arm tackles
- Clutch gene evident, rises to the occasion in big moments against top competition
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Despite good timed speed, doesn't consistently threaten defenses vertically on tape
- Separation skills need refinement to fully utilize his athletic potential in game situations
- Long speed is just adequate, won't threaten the seam or stress safeties vertically
- Needs to improve anchoring and drive blocking, gets walked back too easily at point of attack
- Route tree lacks nuance, relies more on finding voids than creating space with route artistry
- Underwhelming red zone production, needs to become more of a mismatch weapon inside the 20
Scouting Report: Summary
A reliable possession target with plus hands and football IQ, Taylor profiles as a high-floor TE2 with starter upside. His ability to work the middle of the field and convert in crucial situations will endear him to NFL signal-callers. While not a field-stretcher, Taylor's versatility to align across the formation adds value.Scheme fit will be paramount for maximizing Taylor's skill set. He'll thrive in a timing-based offense that emphasizes option routes and finding soft spots in zone coverage. Creative play-callers can leverage his alignment flexibility to create mismatches against linebackers and safeties.
Though lacking elite physical traits, Taylor's technical prowess and football pedigree suggest a solid pro career. With improved blocking technique and route refinement, he has the tools to develop into a dependable inline starter at the next level.
Written By:
Bill Miller (SEC)
How other scouting services rate Mason Taylor (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
209.0
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
13.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.