The New Orleans Saints are hosting standout LSU Tigers tight end Mason Taylor for a visit.
Taylor played three seasons in college, totaling 1,308 yards receiving and 6 touchdowns. The 6-foot-5 tight end appeared on radars during his freshman season with a game-winning reception against the Alabama Crimson Tide in an overtime win.
While the former Tigers tight end opted not to participate in the 40-yard dash and bench press at the NFL Combine, he made up for it at his pro day. He ran a 4.65 40-yard dash and boasted 28 bench press reps—both of which would've ranked second among the tight ends that performed at the combine.
Taylor's remarkable combination of size and speed makes him a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses. At 6-foot-5, he is too big for defensive backs to cover effectively and too fast for opposing linebackers to keep up with. During his final season in college, Taylor would have his best performing season yet, bringing in 55 receptions for 546 yards and 2 touchdowns.
With only three seasons under his belt, Taylor is projected to be a player who will see significant development in the NFL. The receiving tight end's blocking needs more work, and his route tree could be expanded. Despite the work needed, Taylor has a high ceiling and is being compared to Philadelphia Eagles star tight end Dallas Goedert.
The promising tight end is projected to be selected between the second and third rounds. With the Saints holding three day-two picks, they have enough ammunition to bring Taylor to New Orleans.
New Orleans recently extended Juwan Johnson to a three-year deal worth $30 million, but injuries and aging vets make it likely that the Saints will continue to add talent to the tight end room.
The Saints are likely to start a young quarterback in the near future. Adding Taylor could be a potential safety net for the young passer and has the potential to become a dynamic QB-TE duo seen across the league.
