Jets draft Mason Taylor, son of division rival's Hall of Famer in intriguing offensive choice

Billy Heyen

Jets draft Mason Taylor, son of division rival's Hall of Famer in intriguing offensive choice image

The Taylor football family is staying in the AFC East.

But a rivalry is officially brewing.

Miami Dolphins legendary pass rusher Jason Taylor is one of the best players in NFL history, a Hall of Famer who had 131.0 sacks in 13 seasons with the Dolphins.

His son, Mason Taylor out of LSU, was drafted by the Jets with the No. 42 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, early in Friday's second round.

Ironically, Jason played one season with the Jets, in which he compiled 5.0 sacks in 2010.

Taylor is still just 20 years old at the time of his draft selection.

In his final season at LSU, he had 55 catches for 546 yards and two touchdowns.

SN's NFL DRAFT HQ: Live tracker | Pick-by-pick grades | Best players still available

Taylor is a huge target for Justin Fields and whoever the potential New York QB of the future is.

He measures at 6-foot-5, 251 pounds.

ESPN's Booger McFarland said Taylor will immediately have the most dependable hands on the Jets.

New York had been linked to tight end Tyler Warren in the first round, but the Jets instead went offensive line at No. 7 overall.

They get their tight end answer in the second round, and it could just turn out to be one of the best picks in the draft.

The only problem will be the Taylor family's Thanksgiving table, where the 'Fins and J-E-T-S will both be represented.

MORE NFL DRAFT:

Billy Heyen

Billy Heyen is a freelance writer with The Sporting News. He is a 2019 graduate of Syracuse University who has written about many sports and fantasy sports for The Sporting News. Sports reporting work has also appeared in a number of newspapers, including the Sandusky Register and Rochester Democrat & Chronicle