Mason Taylor Rising Up TE Rankings At Senior Bowl

This draft class has a wealth of tight-end talent in all shapes and sizes, which extends to the Senior Bowl roster. Opportunities to showcase talent as a tight end aren’t always easy on the college team they played for, but these practices are the place to do it. The coaches open up the route tree and determine what these guys can do. 

Elijah Arroyo stole the show on day one, and it was Mason Taylor’s turn to build on an already solid showing on day two. The LSU all-time tight-end reception leader took the field on day two and displayed an all-around skill set that will see his draft stock climb. His father detailed on NFL Network how Mason has been working to improve as a blocker, but he was impressive as a route-runner on Wednesday.

Perhaps the rep that coaxed the best reaction out of the crowd, Taylor puts Oklahoma safety Billy Bowman Jr., an excellent defensive back, in the dirt with intention and details. Taylor attacks Bowman’s outside shoulder, closes the gap quickly, and gives Bowman the impression he’s running an over route with urgency. Bowman opens his shoulders to Taylor, who then leans to Bowman slightly, which causes him to slow up and lean slightly. That’s all Taylor needs as he gives Bowman some help to the ground, breaks back out on his over-route, and catches the pass over the middle of the field.

Being a threat down the field for tight ends is an underappreciated aspect of stretching the field, and Taylor does a nice job showcasing downfield nuance on this rep. Taylor attacks the defender's outside shoulder and backs him off to the sideline before squaring up and closing space. While the defender is still moving outside, Taylor attacks vertically and then swims over and inside the outside leveraged defender. He clears him upfield, giving him a head nod for good measure. He breaks back outside and tracks the football over his shoulder, having to slow up slightly to adjust to the football, and when he goes to make the catch, the defender does a great job of ripping that ball out at the catch point. 

It's a play Taylor will want to have back, no doubt, but the defender made a great effort play, and he showed real nuance to create that separation and how to win outside against a defender with outside leverage. 

Seeing an extensive route tree from Taylor and him working to get better at blocking every day, it’s easy to see how he can not only stick on an NFL roster at 6-foot-4 and 250 pounds but work his way into a feature role. Making a name for yourself is tough enough when your dad was a great player in his own right, but the arrow is certainly pointing up for Taylor as the Senior Bowl ramps up.