If there was one point of consistent frustration with the Kansas City Chiefs' offensive line during Friday night's loss, it was right tackle Jawaan Taylor. While the franchise has been to back-to-back Super Bowls since signing Taylor to a four-year $80 million deal, it has been a rocky two seasons with no shortage of lowlights. Friday brought this discussion up yet again, with Taylor struggling and committing key penalties.
While left tackle Josh Simmons made a handful of mistakes as well, there was far more consistency. Being outplayed by a rookie making his first start made it clear just how frustrating Taylor's tenure has become. The veteran cannot be relied on in the game's biggest moments not to commit a dumb penalty or to completely whiff in protection. What is infuriating about watching Taylor isn't just about the penalties but about a horribly inconsistent level of play.
Chiefs Right Tackle Jawaan Taylor Continues to Infuriate Kansas City's Fans in Ugly Performance
Watching back the game and keeping a focus on the offensive line, it becomes clear how many mistakes Taylor made in the opener. It cost Kansas City a handful of times and set up the Chargers to further their control of the game. The Chiefs cannot continue to ignore the obvious red flags that have been on full display for the past two seasons. Taylor isn't a long-term answer, and it is time to begin to consider calling in a second option.
Jaylon Moore spent his first few seasons in the league backing up Trent Williams in San Francisco. When he had played out his contract with the 49ers, the tackle landed in KC on a two-year $30 million deal. This is a sizeable investment that suggests Moore was going to get a chance to play early on in the 2025 season.
Friday's performance from Taylor has further opened the door that the Chiefs might make a change. Self-inflicted penalties and poor protection have continually haunted Kansas City over the last two years. Taylor's lack of consistency can be pointed to as a big piece of this. With this in mind, the Chiefs would be wise to at least see if Moore is a possible upgrade or a better fit at the right tackle spot.
Rookie Josh Simmons enjoyed a strong debut and showed every indication that he is going to be a long-term answer at the position. If Taylor can turn things around or Moore can prove to be an upgrade, the Chiefs' biggest 2024 weakness can quickly be answered in the first weeks of the season.
The biggest issue with Taylor remains the penalties and mistakes that you can no longer accept from a veteran player. This is the tackle's third year in Andy Reid's offense, leaving no remaining excuses or legitimate answers for this level of play. It will be interesting to watch if the Chiefs opt to make a change, returning home to host a Super Bowl rematch against the Philadelphia Eagles. Taylor continues to ask for it, frustrating fans who've seen more than enough from the struggling right tackle.