KC Chiefs: Jordan Ta’amu provides backup quarterback competition

The KC Chiefs signed XFL quarterback Jordan Ta’amu on Monday and the move shows the team is open to having competition at the backup quarterback position.

The only move the Kansas City Chiefs really made in the early stages of free agency was re-signing Chad Henne, who had spent the past two years on the roster. The signing indicated that the Chiefs were more than likely going to have Henne back up Patrick Mahomes again in 2020. They chose to keep Henne over Matt Moore, who started two game for Kansas City in 2019, going 1-1 in those two games.

The Chiefs aren’t just handing the job to Henne, however, and have brought in competition at the backup quarterback spot in the form of Jordan Ta’amu, who most recently played with the St. Louis Battlehawks of the XFL.

Ta’amu threw for 1,050 yards and five touchdowns while also rushing for 217 yards in five games for the Battlehawks. He ranked third in passing yards and seventh in rushing yards during the XFL’s shortened season and adds an exciting new element to the Chiefs quarterback room.

Before he was making plays in the XFL, Ta’amu was the starting quarterback for two years at Ole Miss and threw for 5,600 yards, 30 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions during that time. He also rushed for 507 yards and ten touchdowns with the Rebels.

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Ta’amu went undrafted in the 2019 NFL Draft and spent a brief amount of time with the Texans last summer, but didn’t make the 2019 roster. His time in the XFL helped show teams what he can do and the Chiefs took notice. Now, Jordan Ta’amu has a chance to learn from the best quarterback in the National Football League.

The Chiefs don’t have anything to lose by bringing Ta’amu in and he could be utilized for them in different ways. The team could use a spark in their run game and he could be a way to do that.

Henne is still probably the safe option to have as the backup, as the NFL is a different animal than the XFL, but Ta’amu deserves a shot to show what he can do at the pro level. The Chiefs also still have Kyle Shurmur on their roster, so they’ll have four heading into the summer and – assuming the season still is able to start on time – it should be an interesting battle amongst the three other quarterbacks on the roster.

What do you make of this signing, Chiefs fans?