New York Jets tight end Mason Taylor has dedicated significant time to building chemistry with quarterback Geno Smith during the offseason, a partnership that has led to heightened expectations for Taylor's second year. The pair spent hours working together in South Florida, meeting several times a week for 60 to 90-minute sessions on the field.
"We put a lot of work in the offseason, he was always willing to get out there, it was super hot, but he didn’t mind it," Smith said of Taylor. "He’s a guy who I think is going to be a great player in this league for a long time."
Taylor, a 22-year-old former second-round pick from LSU, aims to improve on a rookie season hampered by the team's struggles on offense. His only touchdown catch as a rookie was thrown by running back Breece Hall.
This season brings new expectations for Taylor, with Smith at quarterback and Frank Reich as offensive coordinator. Despite the Jets drafting tight end Kenyon Sadiq in the first round, which raised questions about Taylor's role, Taylor has been a prominent figure in training camp, making numerous highlight-reel catches. Sadiq has been sidelined for most of camp due to hernia surgery complications.
Jets coach Aaron Glenn noted Taylor's improvements, particularly in his ability to catch and gain yards after the catch. "I thought he did a really good job, and I think you guys saw some of the plays he made out there," Glenn said. "I would say in general, one of the things that he really improved on that we talked about in the exit meetings is his ability to catch and be able to get yards after the catch. I thought he did a really good job with that. He made some unbelievable catches in this camp. A thing about Mason is that he’s still growing. He’s still starting to understand exactly what his body can do and how can he go out there and make himself successful in certain situations. I’m excited about that player. I loved the way he attacked this training camp, not just from a pass receiving aspect, but also from a blocking aspect."
Taylor himself has felt a significant growth in his confidence. "I think a lot of things were fast for me last year," Taylor said. "I think this year everything’s kind of slowed down. I’ve been able to dial down on what I need to work on and what I need to get better at and how I can win these blocks each and every play and be more consistent in it. It’s confidence and it’s getting reps every single day against our defense and in the joint practices and the preseason has been great for me. I’ll just continue to build off that."
Smith, who grew up in the same South Florida area as Taylor, noted his positive impression of the young tight end. "I always liked Mason," Smith said. "I watch a ton of college football, so I knew who he was, he made a lot of plays at LSU and also know about his dad and all that. But, he’s a guy, to me, who’s that safety net, he’s always in the right spot, he’s got great hands, he runs great routes. He’s a big, physical guy, he can block well. And you know, it’s only his second year, so he’s going to continue to get better."
Taylor is part of a deep tight end room that includes Sadiq, Jeremy Ruckert, and Jelani Woods. Taylor believes this versatility will create numerous opportunities for the offense. "It’s just endless options," Taylor said. "We all have a role. We all know our role. Coach Reich is going to do his job to put us in areas to improve and win us games. I’m really excited to see how we fit our role each and every week. It’s going to be exciting. A bunch of playmakers in that room, in the run game, in the pass, and it’s going to be a problem for defenses."