The Kansas City Chiefs are set to part ways with right tackle Jawaan Taylor, as he is anticipated to become a cap casualty. Reports emerged on Monday morning indicating that Taylor, who has one year left on a four-year, $80 million contract, could be released at the start of the new league year, allowing the Chiefs to save $20 million against the salary cap.
At 28 years old, Taylor stands 6-foot-5 and weighs 330 pounds, making him a significant presence on the offensive line. However, his tenure with the team has been marred by inconsistency, as he accumulated 49 penalties over 45 games, which could be seen as a negative impact on the team”s performance.
Looking ahead, the Chiefs seem to have a plan in place for the post-Taylor era. Last offseason, they signed offensive tackle Jaylon Moore to a two-year, $30 million deal, with expectations that he would step into a starting role. However, the acquisition of Josh Simmons with the 32nd pick in the 2025 NFL Draft shifted Moore down the depth chart.
Despite this, Moore proved to be a reliable backup, stepping in as a starter at left tackle when Simmons missed time due to personal issues and injury. Moore is also capable of playing right tackle. Reports from Nate Taylor of ESPN suggest that Moore is expected to take over as the starter at right tackle in 2026.
In the previous season, Moore logged 283 snaps at left tackle and 132 at right tackle. A former fifth-round pick from Western Michigan, he was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the 2021 NFL Draft. Standing at 6-foot-4 and weighing 311 pounds, the Chiefs will maintain a comparable size along the offensive line with Moore”s promotion.
Most notably, Moore did not commit any penalties during his 415 snaps last season. Transitioning from Taylor”s average of more than one penalty per game to zero penalties with Moore represents a significant improvement for the Chiefs. As the 2026 season approaches, Moore”s contract will conclude, with a scheduled base salary of $14.2 million.
