In 2023, one of the team’s most notable free agent signings was former Jacksonville Jaguars right tackle Jawaan Taylor. He was initially signed to switch to left tackle, but the team also brought in Donovan Smith, who took that spot. Taylor has had a mixed career in Kansas City, and 2025 could be his last year with the Chiefs.
Not many Chiefs fans were upset when Kansas City signed right tackle Jawaan Taylor in 2023. He was highly regarded, and his former team, the Jacksonville Jaguars, tried to keep him, but the Chiefs’ offer was too good to pass up.
Additionally, he sought an opportunity to play for a top-tier franchise, and the Chiefs offered him a four-year, $80 million deal that included $60 million in guarantees. With that big money comes high expectations.
Immediately, Taylor struggled with false starts and illegal formations that often forced the Chiefs’ offense to scramble and extend drives. The NFL emphasized tackle positioning, and for much of his first year in Kansas City, he was unfairly flagged to establish a league-wide baseline.
Still, he fought through it and helped the Chiefs win Super Bowl LVII and, a year later, Super Bowl LVIII. In 2024, he developed a knee issue that, at times, limited his ability to practice. However, he played through it and had a solid year.
Now, with more changes happening on the offensive line, Taylor, who had a knee procedure during the off-season to clean things up, could be playing his final year ina Chiefs uniform.
He has the second-highest cap number behind Patrick Mahomes this year. He counts $27.3M against the cap this season and next year. The Chiefs are committed to Taylor in 2025, but if they cut him next year, their cap savings will be $20 million, but they will also incur $7.8 million in dead money.
Based solely on those numbers, I don’t see the Chiefs, who have invested heavily in the offensive line, carrying his significant cap number next season.
With camp starting in a few weeks, Taylor remains the planned right tackle. However, after drafting Josh Simmons in the first round and signing former San Francisco 49ers left tackle Jaylon Moore, there’s room for movement and flexibility.
The Chiefs could change their offensive line, and Head Coach Andy Reid has made it clear that the best five linemen will start. So, does that mean Taylor risks losing his starting spot?
Well, despite his salary and the struggles of the line last season, you can bet it is.
Reid has to rebuild the line, and if you watched his career in Philadelphia, you’ll see that he had a line of maulers who dominated defensive lines.
The Chiefs have a chance to repeat that success. If Simmons begins the season at left tackle, Reid might line up Moore at right tackle, moving Taylor to the bench or possibly competing with Kingsley Suamataia at left guard.
Yes, that sounds crazy, but lining him up between Simmons and center Creed Humphrey makes a lot of sense. We don’t know if Kingsley will be able to play a new position at the level the Chiefs need, nor do we know if Taylor can transition to left guard.
But if Reid is committed to fielding the best five, that would be the right decision. With Trey Smith at right guard, the Chiefs’ offensive line could be a dominant force, even with Taylor remaining at right tackle.
The main factor here still depends on how Taylor’s knee responds to off-season surgery and whether he experiences any lingering effects as the regular season approaches. If he’s healthy, Reid has options. If not, I can easily bench him and start Jaylon Moore.
The Chiefs’ offensive line is crucial for returning to the Super Bowl. I firmly believe Reid has the right pieces to improve the line in 2025, but I’m unsure who the five players will be to protect Mahomes on opening day this season.
