2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Mason Taylor (TE – LSU)

FantasyPros will be taking a look at early NFL Draft scouting reports before the Combine in March. Here’s a look at LSU tight end Mason Taylor. And check out our entire 2025 NFL Draft Guide.

2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Mason Taylor

Mason Taylor (TE – LSU)

6-foot-5 | 225 Pounds

Background

Mason Taylor is the son of NFL Hall of Famer Jason Taylor and nephew of Hall of Famer Zach Thomas. Three-star recruit out of St. Thomas Aquinas High who has been starting since he arrived on campus. Had a receiving line of 38-414-3 in 2022 and 36-348-1 in 2023 before concluding his collegiate career with his biggest line this past season — catching 55-546-2.

Positives

Well-built three-year starter with pro bloodlines and consistent production. Despite his size, lines up as an H-Back or in the slot just as often as he’s playing inline. Taylor’s physical approach in the run game is going to endear him to coaches. Works hard to get low in the leverage battle, with good leg drive after contact to generate push.

Taylor has a lot of power in his hands to generate torque as a blocker. Works hard to line up opponents when blocking from motion or pulling. Does a nice job of chipping as he releases on passing downs. Shows good contact balance and focus to work through physicality when running routes. Presents a big target and snatches the ball well away from his frame, with a reliable pair of hands. Credited by Pro Football Focus (PFF) with just seven drops against 129 career catches, including just one drop this past season.

Knows how to use his size and strength to shield opposing defenders from the ball when running stops, hitches, etc. Competitive, tough runner after the catch to run through tackles from opposing defensive backs; willing to lower the shoulder and punish opponents. Uses his frame well to create natural picks in the screen game.

Negatives

Overall balance and flexibility look closer to average; puts some stiff and clunky movements on tape. Sometimes gets caught up in congestion when trying to insert in the run game. Occasionally struggles to get low in pass protection, leading him to get overwhelmed on contact and driven back.

Taylor has some burst in a short area but isn’t the most threatening down the seams in terms of his speed. Doesn’t have the most flexible hips to create separation at the stem against man coverage. As a result, a lot of his catches come on shorter leak-outs and other schemed targets underneath the defense. Was more of a reliable safety valve than a dynamic threat for the Tigers, barely averaging 10 yards per catch over his career.

Summary

Just a big, tough tight end who works hard to sustain in the run game and who presents his quarterback with a big target and a reliable pair of hands underneath. Taylor was asked to execute various blocking assignments and line up all over the offense in school, so as a three-year SEC starter with pro bloodlines, the level of polish is about what you’d expect.

May never be the fastest or most dynamic receiver, but it doesn’t take a lot of imagination to envision Taylor developing into a no-frills, starting-caliber in-line tight end.

Projection: Round 3/Round 4

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Tight Ends

Colston Loveland (Michigan)

A very solid overall tight end who has the type of polish you’d expect given his pedigree. Loveland lined up split out wide or in the slot very often during the games reviewed, showing impressive speed, route-running skills and body control. Provided the Wolverines with a reliable target who could create mismatches against different types of defenders.

Despite not being a primary inline blocker for the team, he is also a physical, aggressive and tough blocker with good effort, sound fundamentals and impressive functional strength. A do-it-all type who looks likely to be a first-round pick at this point, although Lovelans is not quite the physical/athletic freak that typically goes in the first round at his position.

Projection: Round 1/Round 2

Check out the full 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report for Colston Loveland

Tyler Warren (Penn State)

A big, smooth and versatile tight end who has the functional strength to execute different blocking assignments and who stuffed the stat sheet as one of the focal points of Penn State’s offense this year.

Running a variety of different routes from different alignments and showing the ability to create on underneath throws or come down with contested catches, Warren looks like a reliable option with the skills to play either inline or as a flex option at the next level. Looks likely to be one of the first two tight ends off the board, potentially as high as the first round.

Projection: Round 1/Round 2

Check out the full 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report for Tyler Warren

More 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Reports for Tight Ends