Jets Country

Nick Saban Has High Praise For Jets' Second Round Pick Mason Taylor

Nick Saban thinks very highly of Mason Taylor.

Zach Pressnell

Jan 9, 2025; Miami, FL, USA; ESPN analyst Nick Saban before the game between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Penn State Nittany Lions in the Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
Jan 9, 2025; Miami, FL, USA; ESPN analyst Nick Saban before the game between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Penn State Nittany Lions in the Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images / Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
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The New York Jets have gotten off to quite an exciting start to the 2025 NFL Draft. With their first-round pick, they opted to select Missouri offensive tackle Armand Membou. Jets head coach Aaron Glenn has spoken very highly of Membou already.

With their second round pick, the Jets selected LSU tight end Mason Taylor. Taylor is one of the better tight ends in the entire draft and legendary college football coach Nick Saban seemed to agree during the NFL Draft broadcast. Saban missed out on Taylor while he was the head coach at Alabama.

"This was the biggest recruiting mistake we ever made," Saban said during the NFL Draft. "This guy (Mason Taylor) is the best tight end we had in camp."

Saban would go on to discuss Taylor even further, highlighting the "Pro Bowler DNA" that he has with his father, Jason Taylor, and uncle Zack Thomas. Saban previously coached both (Jason) Taylor and Thomas.

"I know that he's got two Pro Bowler DNA [with] Zack and Jason," Saban said. "We bring the guy in and we shuffled around on whether we're gonna offer him or not. He commits to LSU, then we try to get him.

"This guy is an outstanding player. He’s got the right mental makeup. He can play all the spots at tight end. He can play hand in the dirt, he can move as an H, he can play out as a wideout. This guy is a really good player. He’s my favorite all-around tight end.”

With such an experienced and legendary football mind speaking so highly of Taylor, it seems like the Jets nailed the selection. Taylor looks to be an impact starter in New York from day one.

More NFL: Could Jets Capitalize On Unprecedented Shedeur Sanders NFL Draft Slide?

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Zach Pressnell
ZACH PRESSNELL

Zach Pressnell has experience covering all major US sports at both the professional and collegiate levels. He’s produced content for FanSided, Blog Red Machine, The Game Haus, Bethany College Athletics and the Bethany College online newspaper, He graduated from Bethany College (WV) with a degree in Communications and Media Arts, specializing in Sports Journalism. Pressnell was also a four-year member of the baseball team where he earned himself All-PAC recognition as a pitcher (and a cool Tommy John surgery scar). Now, Pressnell specializes in NFL and MLB coverage for Sports Illustrated’s “On SI” network among others. For all business/marketing inquiries regarding "New York Jets On SI," please reach out to Scott Neville: scott@wtfsports.org

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