Jets 2025 training camp opens with QB Justin Fields, but a key piece is missing as TE Mason Taylor holds out. Can new coach Aaron Glenn fix the defense?
StatPro NFL Beat Reporter
The buses have arrived, the lockers are assigned, and the 2025 season is officially underway. Rookies reported to the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center today, kicking off a new era of Jets football under quarterback Justin Fields and Head Coach Aaron Glenn. But while the air is thick with the usual training camp optimism, a significant shadow looms over the proceedings: projected starting tight end Mason Taylor is nowhere to be found.
The Jets are looking to end a 14-year playoff drought, the longest active streak in major American professional sports.
Today marks the official start of what fans hope will be a franchise-altering period. With veterans arriving on July 22, the focus is squarely on establishing the culture Head Coach Aaron Glenn has promised. Drawing from his experience in Dan Campbell's Detroit system, Glenn is tasked with rebuilding a defense that plummeted from 4th to 20th in points allowed since 2022 and, more importantly, ending the agonizing 14-year playoff drought. At the center of it all is QB Justin Fields, who gets his first full camp to command the offense and build the chemistry needed to finally unlock this team's potential.
The biggest immediate obstacle to a smooth camp opening is the contract situation with Mason Taylor. The second-round pick, who was a standout in offseason programs and is penciled in as the starting tight end, remains unsigned. This isn't a typical holdout; it's part of a league-wide standoff affecting nearly all 30 picks after the first two in the second round. The Texans and Browns set a new precedent with fully guaranteed deals, and now agents are holding firm. While Taylor participated in OTAs, he's not expected to be present or practice until a deal is signed, putting both him and the team in a tough spot.
This isn't just a front-office problem; it's a football problem. For a new quarterback like Justin Fields, developing a rhythm with his starting tight end is crucial, especially one as promising as Taylor. Every practice missed is a lost opportunity to build that connection. This stalemate serves as the first real test of Glenn's leadership and the front office's ability to navigate a tricky situation. The pressure is on to find a compromise, as the Jets can ill-afford for their shiny new offensive weapon to be stuck on the sidelines while the rest of the team gets to work.
As the rookies get settled, all eyes turn to the negotiation table. Will the Jets and Mason Taylor's camp find a middle ground before the veterans arrive next week? The start of a new era is exciting, but for it to be successful, the Jets need all their key players on the field. The clock is already ticking.
