The Cleveland Browns enter the 2025 NFL Draft with some holes to fill at tight end.
While David Njoku is the established starter, the rest of the position group is rather light with Brenden Bates, Tre’ McKitty, and Blake Whiteheart (combined NFL stats of 22 receptions for 168 yards and one touchdown) on the roster, and Geoff Swaim and Jordan Akins currently unrestricted free agents.
Related: 4 players who should be rising up the Browns’ board for Day 2
Cleveland could always look to bring Akins back for a third tour, but if general manager Andrew Berry decides to select a tight end in the 2025 NFL Draft, Mason Taylor from LSU could be a player to watch.
Name: Mason Taylor
Position: Tight end
Height/Weight: 6-foot-5, 251 pounds
College: LSU
2024 stats: 12 games, 55 receptions, 546 yards, 9.9 yards per catch, 2 receiving touchdowns
Career stats: 38 games, 129 receptions, 1,308 yards, 10.1 yards per catch, 6 receiving touchdowns
Average “Big Board” Position as of Publishing Date fromMock Draft Database: 61st overall/second-round selection
The Draft Network’s Grade/Round Value: Day 2 - Adequate starter
What an Expert is Saying
Lance Zierlein at NFL.com:
Ascending tight end with plus catch talent and Hall of Fame bloodlines. With just three seasons under Taylor’s belt, more growth is expected in both his game and frame. He’s a smooth athlete with adequate acceleration and the tools to become a more effective route runner in time. He feels defenders around him and catches with sudden hands and elevated focus when needed. He can handle blocking duties on the move or in space, but in-line action will be a challenge for him. His game needs polish, but Taylor has the ability to become a higher-volume target for a team looking to upgrade at the “F” tight end spot.
What an Expert is Saying (Bonus Round):
Keith Sanchez at The Draft Network:
From the snap, Taylor shows a strong understanding of defensive alignments and adjusts his route tempo and pacing accordingly. He can line up anywhere from an outside wide receiver position to the slot, H-back in the backfield, or as an in-line tight end. As a route-runner, Taylor performs exceptionally well against zone coverage, finding open spaces in the defense to make himself available to the quarterback. He is also aware of his role in the middle of the field, quickly turning his head to locate the ball in case of quarterback pressure. After the catch, Taylor accelerates to pick up extra yards and demonstrates good contact balance, allowing him to break arm tackles and gain additional yardage. His large frame enables him to overpower defensive backs and consistently position himself to fall forward.
Taylor excels in crowded areas, maintaining focus to make contested catches without always needing separation. However, there is room for improvement in creating separation from defenders. He tends to rely on his size and strong hands rather than consistently operating with urgency or precision in his routes, which can limit his effectiveness against high-level defenders with size and ball skills. These defenders can match Taylor’s athleticism, contest catches, or force pass breakups (PBUs). Improving his route-running technique will enhance his ability to separate from defenders more consistently. Additionally, Taylor would benefit from increasing his overall strength, which would make him a more effective run blocker and better able to sustain critical blocks on the perimeter.
Fit with the Browns
Taylor needs some time to grow and develop his game at the NFL level, which is something the Browns could offer with Njoku in place as the team’s top tight end. He is willing to block, which is always a nice trait to have as a tight end, with Pro Football Focus crediting him with more than 1,300 snaps as an in-line tight end at LSU. Pairing him with Njoku could present some interesting matchup issues for opposing defenses.
Browns Player Drafting Could Impact
No one as the depth is pretty slim after Njoku, so Taylor would not have much trouble finding playing time if he is up to the challenge.
Priority: Medium to Upper-Medium
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