The NFL world was set abuzz in March, as free agency opened up. Plenty of players changed locations, and the Kansas City Chiefs joined the party. They added running back Kenneth Walker III, safety Alohi Gilman, and defensive tackle Khyiris Tonga while bringing back star tight end Travis Kelce.
While they've made additions, the Chiefs also parted ways with multiple players, with offensive tackle Jawaan Taylor being among the biggest names. They released Taylor as it saved them $20 million in cap space and helped get them under the salary cap.
That move took place on March 2, and as we come to the end of March, Taylor will likely remain a free agent.
Jawaan Taylor Destined to Remain in Unemployment Line
Taylor had one year left on his four-year, $80 million contract, but his production on the field was the driving factor in why he was released. Despite getting a massive deal to be a stalwart on KC's OL, that never happened. Instead, he was one of the biggest liabilities for this team on the offensive line. And his advanced numbers on Pro Football Focus paint a clear picture:
Season | Overall Grade | Pass-Blocking Grade | Run-Blocking Grade | Penalties |
|---|---|---|---|---|
2025 | 53.3 (80th among 89 graded tackles) | 67.3 (49th among 89 graded tackles) | 43.8 (88th among 89 graded tackles) | 13 (85th among 89 tackles) |
2024 | 59.9 (63rd among 81 graded tackles) | 70.8 (40th among 81 graded tackles) | 56.6 (61st among 81 graded tackles) | 17 (79th among 81 tackles) |
2023 | 51.6 (73rd among 84 graded tackles) | 66.4 (45th among 84 graded tackles) | 44.6 (81st among 84 graded tackles) | 20 (84th among 84 tackles) |
Not only did Taylor have his problems as a blocker, but he was a penalty machine during his time with the Chiefs. And for teams looking to bolster their offensive line, Taylor isn't a name that's at the top of the list. Spotrac projects Taylor's market value is $15.0 million per year, but that's very rich for a player with three straight underwhelming seasons.
That's without mentioning there are several options available in free agency that could be seen as better than Taylor. Those names include Taylor Decker, Jack Conklin, Jonah Williams, and Cam Robinson. These options could be viewed as upgrades compared to Taylor, and with the market having multiple veterans up for grabs, that will have a negative impact on Taylor's potential landing spots.
Meanwhile, the NFL draft is less than a month away, so the attention has certainly pivoted there. Teams are likely going to head into the draft with concerns and see if they fill them over those three days. If they come out of the draft and still have questions about their tackle position, they could look at the free agent pool and add Taylor.
Nonetheless, the odds seem to be high that Taylor will remain unsigned for the remainder of March. The fact that he's been available for weeks and no one jumped at the chance to sign him shows how teams around the league currently feel.
Of course, things can change; however, Taylor will likely wait some time before finding his new home.