Let’s clear the air. The Taylor family. If you thought the last name Taylor sounded familiar when the New York Jets called out Mason Taylor’s name with the 42nd overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, you’re not alone. There’s some real football bloodline in this pick. The 20-year-old isn’t just another talented tight end out of LSU. He’s carrying a legacy that’s been built across two generations and two networks — the NFL and Fox Sports. 

“I’m excited,” Joy Taylor said of Mason Taylor before his draft pick. “I’m excited for him, but I’m nervous.” Why? Because they’re family. And family shares all the excitement and anxiety. She is the sister of Mason’s dad, Jason Taylor, who is a Pro Football Hall of Famer. So, the opinionated voice you hear on FS1’s Speak is the aunt of Mason Taylor. Joy’s been with Fox since 2016, and if you’ve ever seen her go toe-to-toe with Skip Bayless or break things down with Paul Pierce and Keyshawn Johnson, you know she’s got fire too – just like her brother.

“For 15 years, I watched this sport with a severe emotional attachment in my brother,” Joy said ahead of Mason Taylor’s draft pick. “It’s like a familiar anxiety. When your family plays in something, when your family is part of something, it’s very different.” That’s the duality of family and football. You worry, you celebrate, and you live every snap with them. 

Mason’s dad – Jason Taylor – is a Miami legend, spending 13 of 15 NFL seasons with the Dolphins. He was named the 2006 Defensive Player of the Year and was inducted into the Pro HoF in 2017 with 139.5 career sacks and 46 FFs. He even had a one-year stint with the Jets in 2010.

As for Mason’s uncle? None other than Zach Thomas, whose sister Katina married his Dolphins teammate Jason. Yeah, he was also a seasoned NFL LB and a fellow Hall of Famer. A football family tree so thick, no wonder the young guy made a name for himself right from college. As for the Jets’ fans, this acquisition could be a game-changer. 

The Jets got a weapon in Mason Taylor 

Mason Taylor, a Florida native, sharpened his game at St. Thomas Aquinas HS in Fort Lauderdale as a TE and DE before moving on to Baton Rouge. At LSU, he didn’t just show up. He even broke the school record last season by recording 55 catches as a TE, finishing his collegiate career with 129 catches for 1,308 yards and six scores across 38 games. Oh, and he snagged at least one pass in 28 straight games. That’s consistency you can build a franchise on. Even Nick Saban has realized what he’s capable of. 

NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein summed Mason Taylor up perfectly — “An ascending tight end with plus catch talent and Hall of Famer bloodlines.” So you see, he’s not walking into the league empty-handed. He’s bringing history, hunger, and big hands. At 6’5, 251 pounds, he’s not just a target for Justin Fields, but a legit weapon. The Jets are in need of a TE after losing Tyler Conklin in free agency. Mason Graham enters the mix with a bunch of young guys like first-year players Neal Johnson, Zack Kuntz, and free agent Stone Smartt. 

As for Joy Taylor, the draft anxiety may be over for now. But she’ll have several seasons ahead of her to watch Mason Taylor with renewed passion.