It’s a good draft for tight ends. Penn State product Tyler Warren highlights the group, but as many as three tight ends could hear their names called on Thursday night when the first round of the NFL Draft gets underway.
Warren and Michigan’s Colston Loveland are slam dunks, but LSU’s Mason Taylor is making a push to be a late first-round pick. Earlier this week, NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah said Taylor is generating buzz as the draft approaches.
Taylor is a complete tight end with a high floor. He’s not entirely polished, but he’s not a raw prospect. That, combined with his athletic tools, gives him a chance to make an immediate impact as a rookie.
Taylor left LSU as the most productive tight end in program history. He claimed a starting role as a freshman, showing up in big moments as LSU upset Ole Miss and Alabama in 2022. Taylor continued to be a stable presence in the LSU offense and declared for the draft after just three seasons.
If Taylor doesn’t go in the first round, he’ll be one of the first players off the board in the second round. Here are the five most likely destinations for the LSU tight end.
Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles own the No. 32 overall pick after winning the Super Bowl. In recent days, several mocks have sent Taylor to the Eagles with the final selection of the first round.
“GM Howie Roseman does a tremendous job of drafting players and getting them experience before they are needed as starters. Taylor, a smooth pass catcher, could be next in line,” said Charles Davis in his latest mock draft.
In Philly, Taylor would join a dynamic offense that likes to get the tight end involved. The Eagles rely on the run game and count on their tight ends to be effective blockers, too. In the passing game, Taylor would have chances to make plays as AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith swallow up attention on the outside.
The Rams hold the No. 26 overall pick, the point in the draft where Taylor’s name will enter the discussion. Twenty-six is probably a reach, but if Loveland is off the board and the Rams want a tight end, Taylor is their guy.
There’s speculation about the Rams trading down to a later pick in the first round or picking up an early second-round pick. Taylor would make sense in that range, too.
The Rams have a solid tight end with Tyler Higbee, but adding Taylor allows Sean McVary to vary up his personnel.
Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins own the No. 13 pick in the first round, far above Taylor’s range. But Miami is a team to watch if Taylor remains available when the Phins pick at No. 48.
