When the Jacksonville Jaguars drafted Jawaan Taylor in 2019, they thought they had found the long-term answer at right tackle. However, it didn't go the way they envisioned. The former Florida Gator struggled with penalties early in his NFL career, and it wasn't until the last year of his rookie deal that he put it all together.
Following his breakout season, Taylor signed a four-year deal worth $80 million with the Kansas City Chiefs. Although there was chatter about him moving to left tackle, he ultimately stayed at right tackle.
Fast forward to 2026, and Taylor's stint with Kansas City is coming to an end after three seasons.
The Chiefs are reportedly cutting Jawaan Taylor
Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that the Chiefs have informed Jawaan Taylor that they're going to cut him ahead of free agency, noting that his release will free up $20 million in cap space. Other outlets have since confirmed the scoop.
The news isn't particularly shocking when you take into account that Taylor, to nobody's surprise, has led the league in penalties since he landed in Kansas City. Moreover, the Chiefs are more than $5 million over the cap. His release will only leave a bit over $7 million, making the decision a no-brainer.
Then again, and for a brief moment, it looked like the Chiefs could retain Taylor in 2026. Speaking to reporters at the NFL Scouting Combine, Kansas City general manager Brett Veach hinted at the possibility of keeping the veteran hog molly around, arguing that he had logged several starts the past few years.
Ultimately, the Chiefs surely came to the conclusion that the benefits of moving on from Jawaan Taylor outweigh whatever drawbacks that may ensue after paying him $60 million the past three years.
In three seasons with the Chiefs, Taylor was flagged a concerning 56 times. Moreover, he allowed 59 and 43 total pressures in 2023 and 2024, respectively, two of the worst marks of his career.
The Jaguars made the right call when they replaced Jawaan Taylor with Anton Harrison
Say what you want about former general manager Trent Baalke, but he got this one right. For all the blunders he made during his stint with the Jaguars, letting Jawaan Taylor walk and replacing him with Anton Harrison has worked out pretty well.
Although Harrison struggled at times as a rookie, he also flashed potential. Sure, he didn't show much improvement in 2024, but the team as a whole left much to be desired. But once the new regime arrived last year, the former Oklahoma Sooner made significant strides, which is why the decision to pick up the fifth-year option on his rookie deal is a no-brainer.
Meanwhile, the Chiefs will be looking for another right tackle to replace Jawaan Taylor, who's proven that he's still the same player he was in Duval. Having said that, he has ample starting experience. That will help him land on his feet in a league where the demand for offensive tackles outweighs the supply.
Still, wherever Trent Baalke is, he can take a victory lap and pump his fist knowing that he made the right choice.