Chiefs Cutting Jawaan Taylor
Kansas City Chiefs are making cap-clearing moves by notifying right tackle Jawaan Taylor of a possible cut if they can't arrange a trade. The move comes as KC looks to free up salary cap space ahead of free agency starting March 11. Taylor's departure would create a significant hole on the offensive line protecting Patrick Mahomes.
Jawaan Taylor landed a four-year, $80 million contract with the Chiefs in 2023, with $60 million guaranteed. His potential release is driven by a hefty $27.4 million cap hit for the 2026 season. The move would provide the Chiefs with significant financial flexibility, freeing up $20 million in salary-cap space while leaving behind a $7.4 million dead cap charge. This comes after the team already restructured Patrick Mahomes' contract to create more cap room. Taylor's time in Kansas City has been marred by a high number of penalties. He led the NFL with 24 penalties (21 accepted) in his first season with the team. Over 45 games as a Chief, he accumulated 49 penalties, the most of any offensive lineman in that period. Despite the penalty issues, Taylor was a durable player for most of his career, starting 111 games over seven seasons. He was a key part of the offensive line during their Super Bowl-winning 2023 campaign. With Taylor's likely departure, the Chiefs will have a significant hole to fill at right tackle. Jaylon Moore is an in-house candidate to take over the starting position. The team will also likely look to the upcoming NFL draft and the free-agent market for additional offensive line depth. At 28 years old, Taylor is expected to draw interest from other teams in need of an experienced offensive tackle. The Houston Texans, who recently traded away tackle Tytus Howard, could be a potential landing spot for Taylor.
