The 2026 offseason for the Kansas City Chiefs started weeks ago with a multitude of coaching changes. With the Chiefs over $50 million above the salary cap next season, major roster changes are likely the next line of business.
The draft and free agency are approaching fast, but general manager Brett Veach has to first look inward at the current state of this Chiefs team. On the surface, it appears Veach has dug himself a hole as Kansas City currently ranks last of 32 NFL teams in terms of cash hitting the cap. But there is one home run move he can go to, and it seems like a no-brainer.
29-year-old right tackle Jawaan Taylor signed with the Chiefs in 2023 on a 4-year/$80 million contract. His time in red and gold has been rocky to say the least. Taylor has accumulated over 50 penalties in the last three years, which ranks among the most in the league. When he’s not being penalized, Taylor is a fine player, but at his price point over the lifespan of this contract, along with the drive-killing mistakes, it’s fair to argue that this deal was a miss by Veach.
Taylor Should Have Already Played His Final Game for Kansas City
Taylor enters the last season of his deal, with his cap hit at a whopping $27 million, a number identical to the money the Chiefs had to swallow from his contract last year as well. What’s different about this season is that due to the contract's structure, the Chiefs can cut Taylor this offseason and only have to pay him a $7 million portion of the deal. This would immediately free up $20 million against the cap, giving Kansas City roster flexibility while also lessening the financial burden on a middling player.
The big question, however, is not whether Taylor will get cut from the Chiefs. That’s almost a forgone conclusion. It’s who will fill his spot at right tackle, a premium position protecting the best player on the planet, in Patrick Mahomes?
The Chiefs have done a masterful job of locking up an excellent offensive line over the years, with stalwarts like center Creed Humphrey and right guard Trey Smith, and young ascending talents in left tackle Josh Simmons and left guard Kingsley Suamataia. Swing tackle Jaylon Moore was signed by Kansas City last offseason to take over at left tackle, but when Simmons fell into the Chiefs' lap at the end of the first round, Moore was relegated to a backup role, which he served very well when called upon in spurts last year.
Esa Pole was an undrafted rookie last season, whom the Chiefs picked up from the New York Jets practice squad. In four games started with the Chiefs, Pole allowed just one sack but took three penalties. Pole is bigger than Moore at 6’7”, 320 lbs, and is a good athlete, but may be too inexperienced to be considered a full-time starter at this point. Moore, on the other hand, has a much higher financial investment by the Chiefs and is the more seasoned vet.
The free agent pool for right tackles is slim pickings, as is the draft. Kansas City is a team with major holes to fill on this roster, but it has limited resources, meaning that the battle for right tackle, should Jawaan Taylor be cut, will last throughout training camp. We’ll see who comes out on top between Jaylon Moore and Esa Pole.