Mason Taylor, ESPN’s No. 4-ranked tight end prospect and No. 48 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft, has big shoes to fill as he enters the league out of LSU.
After three seasons with the Tigers, which saw him rack up 129 receptions for 1,308 yards and six touchdowns, the son and nephew of two Pro Football Hall of Famers — Jason Taylor and Zach Thomas — have big shoes to fill.
NFL Bloodlines: Mason Taylor Looks to Match Jason Taylor’s Legacy
Taylor, mocked by ESPN analyst Jordan Reid to go No. 50 overall to the Seattle Seahawks, is the son of former dominant pass rusher Jason Taylor.
“Yeah, just kind of having that insight, that inside scoop that many people aren’t fortunate to have,” Taylor told the Akron Beacon Journal. “So it was definitely a blessing, but my only memory when my dad was playing was messing around with my brother and sister in the suite or locker room, tackling each other.”
“So, I mean, not much memory there, but just having him in my supportive group and my team and my family, of course, being supportive of me throughout the whole way, throughout ups and downs, has been huge.”
Jason, who racked up 139.5 sacks — seventh most all-time — in his time with the Miami Dolphins, Washington Redskins and New York Jets, led the league with 18.5 sacks in 2002. He won the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award off a 13.5 sack, league-leading nine forced fumble and two interceptions for touchdowns performance in 2006.
The former third-round pick out of Akron was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2017, his first year of eligibility.
KEEP READING: Who Is Mason Taylor’s Father? Meet the Hall of Famer Who Keeps TE on His Feet
Uncle Thomas, the brother of Jason’s ex-wife Katina, was a dominant tackler in Miami, leading the league with 156 in 2002 and 165 in 2006. He finished his career with 1,734 tackles and 20.5 sacks, putting him sixth all-time on the NFL’s career tackles list. The former fifth-round pick out of Texas Tech was a four-time Hall of Fame finalist before being inducted in his 10th year of eligibility in 2023.
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