The Kansas City Chiefs are all-in on fixing their offensive line this offseason, but they may have overcorrected by handing Jaylon Moore a deal that already looks shaky.
After Patrick Mahomes was sacked six times in their Super Bowl loss to the Eagles, it was painfully clear: the offensive line couldn't hold the fort. That performance ended any chance of a historic three-peat and sent Kansas City back to the drawing board.
Sure, the Chiefs finished 16th in sacks allowed last season with 41—not exactly rock bottom, but not the type of stat line you want tied to the team protecting the league’s most valuable asset. Mahomes is the engine of the Chiefs’ dynasty. Keeping him upright is priority No. 1, 2, and 3.
So this offseason, Kansas City didn’t just dip their toes into the free-agent pool—they cannonballed in. And right at the center of that splash was a two-year, $30 million contract for Jaylon Moore.
On paper, it was a bold move. But in reality it’s already looking like it could blow up in their face.
Moore, a 2021 fifth-round pick by the San Francisco 49ers, spent most of his early career riding the pine. Over four seasons, he started just 12 games, mostly serving as a backup swing tackle. But in 2024, he finally got his shot, starting five games at left tackle and putting together a solid stretch of play.
Apparently, that was enough for the Chiefs to back up the Brinks truck. Maybe they saw a diamond in the rough, or they just panicked and slapped a band-aid on a deeper issue. Either way, $30 million for a part-time starter raises some eyebrows.
To complicate things further, Kansas City doubled down at left tackle in the 2025 NFL Draft, using their first-round pick on Josh Simmons out of Ohio State. Simmons is rehabbing from a knee injury, so Moore will likely start the season protecting Mahomes’ blind side—but once the rookie is fully healthy, Moore's grip on the job could loosen fast.
If Moore doesn't show out early, he might end up being the highest-paid seat warmer on the roster.
And the money situation doesn't help either. Moore carries an $11.2 million cap hit this season, but that number shoots up to a hefty $18.7 million in 2026. That’s a steep price tag for someone with just five decent starts under his belt.
Thankfully, the Chiefs built in a trap door. If Moore doesn’t cut it, they can cut bait after one season, eating $10.7 million in dead cap but saving $8 million. Not ideal, but not a total catastrophe either.
Kansas City rolled the dice, hoping Moore’s limited sample size was a sign of things to come, not a flash in the pan. But if he falters and Simmons develops like they hope, the Chiefs might be pulling the plug on this deal sooner than expected.
In a league where protecting the quarterback is everything, Kansas City gambled big. Now they just have to hope Moore doesn’t fold under pressure.