The Kansas City Chiefs released tackle Jawaan Taylor as soon as the season ended, and he signed on with Atlanta.
The Kansas City Chiefs are in the middle of a makeover with their offensive line, and tackle Jawaan Taylor is one of the big reasons this became a necessity. Taylor had a bad season that cost the Chiefs $20 million, but now he has a new home with the Atlanta Falcons, according to a report written by Myles Simmons of Pro Football Talk via Adam Schefter of ESPN.
Taylor’s deal with Atlanta is for one year at $5 million, with another $1 million in incentives available, so this is a big pay cut for the tackle that reflects his struggles in Kansas City.
It’s not surprising, given that Simmons described Taylor’s three seasons with the Chiefs as “tumultuous.” Taylor did get a Super Bowl ring with Kansas City in 2023, but he also became a penalty machine, piling up 54 infractions during his time with the club.
Taylor’s ability to stay on the field also declined during that time, as he started 17 games in 2023, 16 the following year and just 12 in 2025. Part of that was probably due to performance, though, as the Chiefs struggled to protect quarterback Patrick Mahomes for most of the season.
The Falcons are taking a low-cost gamble here, especially with Michael Penix Jr. and Tua Tagovailoa at the top of their quarterback depth chart. Both QBs have been an injury waiting to happen in their respective NFL careers, and slotting in Taylor at right tackle some with some serious risks.
The Chiefs, meanwhile, have definitely moved on. They still have a left tackle issue to deal with, as rookie Josh Simmons struggled to stay on the field last year. Simmons had some successful stretches, but Kansas City needs a reliable option to protect Mahomes’ blind side.
The Simmons situation is particularly delicate, and it’s also a fascinating part of the Chiefs’ draft strategy. Kansas City has had multiple offensive linemen in for visits, including left tackle prospects, which could be a message to Simmons that his job isn’t totally secure.
One of the key decisions of this offseason will be where the Chiefs go with their two first-round draft picks on April 23. GM Brett Veach considers offensive tackle to be a high-value position, but starters aren’t easy to find, especially on the left side.
Regardless of where Kansas City decides to go with this, fans will be relieved to see Taylor out of the mix given all the penalties he produced.