Tight end Mason Taylor has become the forgotten man at One Jets Drive.

Since the Jets drafted Kenyon Sadiq in the first round of the 2026 NFL draft, Taylor has become an afterthought when discussing the New York Jets offense.

For the first time in years, it seems the Jets have a surplus of options on offense. That has left Taylor feeling like the odd man out. Between the two first-round playmakers (Sadiq and Omar Cooper Jr.), the extension of Breece Hall, and the return of a healthy Garrett Wilson, it’s hard to see where Taylor fits in.

However, people shouldn’t be so fast to write Taylor off.

Taylor’s rookie-year production doesn’t jump off the screen, but he still showed plenty of promise. He made the most of his opportunities, catching 11 of his 14 contested catches for an elite 78.6% catch rate. While he only ranked 30th among tight ends in receiving yards with 369, Taylor accounted for 15.5% of the Jets’ passing yards, which was 14th-best.

What makes this especially impressive is the fact that he was only 21 years old during his rookie year.

It puts Taylor on a trajectory to match the early career arc of another productive second-round tight end.

Mason Taylor is following the path of Cole Kmet

When I evaluated rookie tight ends to project Taylor’s production, one player stood out as the ideal comparison: Cole Kmet.

While Taylor went 42nd overall, Cole Kmet was drafted 43rd overall in 2020 by the Chicago Bears. They both joined the NFL with similar scouting and physical profiles. However, the most important similarity was their age.

Like Taylor, Kmet was a 21-year-old rookie. The lack of experience showed, as he totaled a mere 28 receptions and 243 yards in his first season. But those numbers would more than double in his second season: 60 receptions and 612 receiving yards.

From 2021 to 2024, Kmet racked up 230 receptions (9th among tight ends), 2,349 yards (10th), and 17 touchdowns (11th). The Jets would likely be thrilled with similar production from Taylor.

Another similarity between Kmet and Taylor? Their teams would later draft a first-round tight end with tantalizing playmaking potential. Chicago selected Colston Loveland in the first round of the 2025 draft.

Unfortunately for Taylor, Kmet had five years to establish himself, while Taylor only has one.

How will Kenyon Sadiq and Mason Taylor fit together?

Taylor’s second-year production is much harder to project given the new situation. The Jets have three wide receivers they’re excited about and just added an uber-athletic tight end in the first round.

Last year, Taylor’s biggest worry was learning his position. Now, it’s trying to stand out in a crowded room.

However, there is an important distinction between Taylor and Sadiq that will keep Taylor on the field. As a rookie, Taylor played over half of his snaps (389 of 656, 59%) in-line. While Sadiq played plenty of in-line in college, he projects better to a big slot role in the NFL.

This will allow the Jets to maximize Taylor and Sadiq’s talents simultaneously. While the Jets will obviously use both players in-line, having Taylor in-line and Sadiq in the slot presents a nightmare for defenses.

The Jets will have the ability to run and pass with equal effectiveness with this personnel group. Put a safety on Sadiq, and he’ll block them into the ground. Put a linebacker on him, and they won’t be able to keep up. Meanwhile, Taylor allows the Jets to still keep a viable blocker at the in-line tight end spot without sacrificing a playmaker.

Sadiq and Taylor won’t limit one another; they will bring out the best in each other.