NY Jets tap into Jason Taylor pipeline again with final 2025 draft pick

The New York Jets have added another player with ties to Jason Taylor to close out their 2025 NFL Draft class.

After selecting LSU tight end Mason Taylor — Jason Taylor’s son — with the No. 42 overall pick on Day 2, the Jets returned to the Taylor pipeline with their final pick, drafting edge rusher Tyler Baron at No. 176 overall in the fifth round.

The Jets traded up with the Baltimore Ravens to make the selection, moving from pick No. 186 to pick No. 176 and swapping 2026 fifth- and sixth-round picks in the process.

With that move, they landed Baron, a former top transfer who spent four years at Tennessee before finishing his college career at Miami. Although Baron didn't quite live up to expectations in his lone season with the Hurricanes, he still led the team in tackles for loss, pressures, and sacks.

Baron also worked directly under Jason Taylor at Miami, where Taylor serves as the Hurricanes’ defensive ends coach. After adding Mason Taylor earlier in the draft, the Jets went back to the Jason Taylor pipeline one final time to cap off their 2025 draft haul.

Tyler Baron gives the NY Jets much-needed DE depth

Baron joins a Jets defensive end room that is filled with potential but still carries major question marks. Former first-round pick Will McDonald broke out in 2024 with 10.5 sacks and is hoping to continue improving as an overall edge defender.

Meanwhile, former first-rounder Jermaine Johnson is returning from a torn Achilles that limited him to just two games last year, creating some uncertainty about his short-term (and possibly long-term) impact.

Beyond those two, the Jets’ depth at edge rusher thins out quickly. Micheal Clemons has yet to establish himself as anything more than a rotational piece at best, while 2024 undrafted free agents Eric Watts and Braiden McGregor are still fighting for spots.

Adding Baron to the mix gives the Jets another young, athletic pass rusher to develop, someone who, at minimum, should be able to push the bottom half of the depth chart.

Baron is far from a finished product. He flashes impressive speed-to-power ability and can win with his motor and physicality when his hand usage is right, but there is a lot of inconsistency to his game.

He struggles to consistently set the edge in the run game, and there are questions about how well his traits will translate against NFL-caliber tackles. That said, there’s clear upside to work with, especially under new head coach Aaron Glenn’s defensive staff.

At the very least, Baron profiles as a potential special teams contributor and rotational edge defender in his rookie year. With coaching and development, he could eventually carve out a more significant role

The Jets are betting on athleticism, toughness, and pedigree as they continue shaping the next era of their roster. And evidently, a little Jason Taylor connection never hurts either.