NFL Draft Mailbag: John Mateer's potential; Mason Taylor's unique edge as Jets TE

Heading into the 2025 season, expectations are sky-high in Norman as the Oklahoma Sooners hope quarterback John Mateer, named the top transfer in the country by ESPN, can help return the program to the elite level it enjoyed under Bob Stoops.

In this week’s mailbag, we break down what kind of prospect Mateer really is, why Jets tight end Mason Taylor stood out before the draft, and the red flags surrounding Alabama offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor.

Q: What’s your take on Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer?

Mateer is one of the most talked about quarterbacks in college football right now, and for good reason. After transferring from Washington State to Oklahoma, ESPN ranked him as the top player in the portal. He’s coming off a monster season where he led the FBS in total touchdowns with 44 and was the only quarterback to throw for 20 or more and rush for 10 or more scores. Statistically, he completed 65 percent of his passes for 3,139 yards and added another 826 yards on the ground.

As a prospect, two traits stand out: mobility and arm strength. Mateer is an electric runner who led all FBS quarterbacks with 58 missed tackles forced, and he can legitimately be part of a pro team’s run game. On top of that, he has the arm to consistently connect on deep throws.

But he’s not a clean prospect. He’s jittery in the pocket, which throws off his rhythm and timing. His average time to throw was 3.04 seconds last season, according to PFF, which is too long. That constant movement also impacts his footwork and leads to inaccurate passes. And then there’s the experience issue. He has just one year as a starter, and it came against weak Pac-12 defenses.

Right now, I’ve got a third-round grade on Mateer. He has traits and upside, but his lack of pocket poise is a red flag. If he shows he can play on time and win from the pocket at Oklahoma, he has a shot to rise. 

Q: Leading up to the NFL Draft, you called Jets tight end Mason Taylor one of the most underrated players in the draft. He’s now having an impressive training camp with the Jets. Why were you so sold on him?

There were several reasons I named Mason Taylor to my All-Underrated team and gave him a late first-round grade. One of the biggest was that he was one of the most complete tight ends in the 2025 class. As a receiver, he showed downfield ability with a 4.68 forty and set the LSU record for tight end receptions with 55 last season. He also had some of the most reliable hands in the class, dropping just one pass all year.

While he’s definitely more polished as a receiver, he’s not a liability as a blocker. He played in-line 45 percent of the time last season and was a valuable piece of LSU’s run game. He brings solid power and takes smart angles when engaging defenders.

As for his impact this season, I wouldn’t be surprised if he finishes second on the team in receptions behind Garrett Wilson. And it also wouldn’t shock me if the second-round pick ends up with a better stat line than first-rounder Tyler Warren.

Q: How do you view Alabama’s Kadyn Proctor, who was the highest-rated NFL Draft prospect on Bruce Feldman’s Freak List?

Going into the season, I have a mid-first round grade on Kadyn Proctor and rank him as the second best offensive tackle in the 2026 NFL Draft. One of the biggest reasons for that is his raw power. He can physically overwhelm defenders, and his strength is backed up by absurd weight room numbers, including an 815-pound squat and a 535-pound bench press, according to Feldman.

That said, there are red flags. At 366 pounds, his size might actually be working against him. He gave up 15 pressures last year, and a big part of that is his lack of foot speed. He struggles to mirror twitchy edge rushers and may end up being viewed more as a guard by NFL teams. There's also some off-field baggage with how he left Alabama for Iowa to chase NIL money, then transferred back to Alabama. That kind of move will raise questions in some front offices.

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As far as NFL fit, I see him landing with a run-heavy team that uses a gap scheme. One possible landing spot is the Cleveland Browns.