As the Jets had hoped when they selected TE Mason Taylor in the second round of April's NFL draft, the 6-5, 251-pound rookie is beginning to carve out a significant role on offense.
Last week against Dallas was Taylor's most productive in his 5 games as a professional. He had a team-high 9 receptions on a team-high 12 targets for 67 yards -- all the numbers were the best of his budding career. He also had a 10th catch on a 2-point conversion pass from QB Justin Fields.
"I think the transition from college [LSU] to the NFL has been good and thinking we have a great team around us and a great group of guys, and it's been easy for me," Taylor said in London as the Jets prepare to "host" the Denver Broncos at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday. "The coaches and the players are taking me in. So it's been pretty good."
Taylor's numbers have improved as he's gotten more comfortable in the offense and as Fields has gotten more comfortable looking his way. Garrett Wilson remains Fields' go-to guy on the outside, but Taylor brings with him evolving intangibles and promise the rest of the season.
He has chalked up (early) career highs in three straight games -- in Week 3 against Tampa Bay he caught 4 passes for 18 yards, then followed it with 5 catches for 65 yards the next week, against Miami, playing before family (including his Pro Football Hall of Fame dad, Jason) and friends in his hometown. Overall, he has 20 receptions (from 28 targets) for 175 yards (8.8 per) while still pursuing his first NFL TD.
"He allows us to have another dynamic player out there to open space up for everybody else," HC Aaron Glenn said of Taylor this week. "I think, when you create that with another player just like him, it allows other guys to get one-on-ones, too. And we're going to continue to utilize him. He's doing a good job, you know there's a lot of things he can do better, but I think our quarterbacks are doing a good job of getting him involved and getting him the ball early."
In addition, Taylor's blocking ability has helped the Jets' No. 3-ranked rush game ramble for 722 yards (144.4 a game).
"I just try to do my best in practice, displaying what I could do for the coordinator and for our quarterback and gaining their trust and being on top of my work and my body every single day, and letting the rest take care of itself," Taylor said. "But now I'm here for football games, whether I'm catching 10 balls a game or blocking 50 snaps, whatever it takes for us to win, and we're kind of trying to figure that out is the best for my ability for this team.
"The more games I get under my belt, the better it is for my confidence and my fundamentals and things like that. I think every single game I started trending in the right direction. So it's exciting to see, and it's definitely encouraging to see as well."
