The Indianapolis Colts desperately need a tight end. Surely, you’ve heard that statement a billion times this offseason. Will Mason Taylor be the guy?
The former LSU star has loads of potential and would be a great fit for the Colts. Most mock drafts have Indianapolis taking Penn State’s Tyler Warren or Michigan’s Colston Loveland. Yes, both of those tight ends are super-talented prospects who could become NFL stars. But don’t underestimate Taylor, who could also develop into an outstanding pro.
The Indianapolis Colts Should Consider Drafting LSU Tight End Mason Taylor
His Career at LSU
Mason Taylor starred at St. Thomas Aquinas High School, located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He then committed to play college football at LSU.
Taylor played three seasons with the Tigers. As a freshman against Alabama, he caught the game-winning 2-point conversion. It was LSU’s first home victory over the Crimson Tide since 2010.
In 2023, he caught 36 passes for 348 yards, and a touchdown. He helped current Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels win the Heisman Trophy that year. Last season, Taylor recorded 55 receptions, 546 receiving yards, and two touchdowns. He also became the first tight end in LSU history to surpass the 1,000-yard receiving mark in his career.
Why Drafting Taylor Makes Sense
Again, the Colts badly need a play-making tight end. The team used four tight ends last season: Kylen Granson, Mo Alie-Cox, Drew Ogletree, and Will Mallory. None of those players contributed much in 2024. Jelani Woods could turn out to be a star in Indianapolis, but he has struggled mightily to stay healthy. The former Virginia star missed the past two seasons due to injury.
Mason Taylor would be an upgrade over all of those guys. He’s projected to go in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft. So if the Colts draft him, they can perhaps take a linebacker like Alabama’s Jihaad Campbell instead of Warren or Loveland. Taylor, of course, isn’t expected to be as good as Warren or Loveland, but he can still be a great player. And who’s to say he can’t turn out to be the best tight end in the draft?
At 6’5 and 246 lbs, Taylor has the ideal size that the Colts front office would look for. He has a knack for making plays in the short, intermediate, and deep portions of the field in the passing game. Taylor understands how to run routes to create separation. Plus, he has football in his blood. Both his father (Jason Taylor) and uncle (Zach Thomas) are Hall of Famers, who were teammates with the Miami Dolphins.
An intense quarterback battle between Anthony Richardson and newcomer Daniel Jones is set to take place in Indianapolis. Mason Taylor could emerge as a dynamic weapon for whatever quarterback wins the starting job in training camp.
Taylor could team with wide receivers Michael Pittman Jr., Josh Downs, Alec Pierce, and Adonai Mitchell to give Indy a fascinating pass-receiving corps in 2025. When it’s all said and done, he could wind up being a Day 2 draft steal for the Colts.
Main Image: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
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