It didn't come as a surprise when the Kansas City Chiefs opted to part ways with offensive tackle Jawaan Taylor early in the 2026 offseason.
Cutting the veteran blocker saved $20 million in space and has continued to have a positive impact on the Chiefs, instantly helping them upgrade their backfield with Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III. Given how much of a sore spot the running back room was last season, it was encouraging to see Kansas City capitalize on the split.
Although Walker's signing was something Taylor's release helped foster, it isn't the only way the Chiefs have benefited from his exit.
Chiefs Are Benefiting from Jawaan Taylor's Exit in More Ways Than One
Taylor constantly frustrated Chiefs fans due to pre-snap penalties and self-imposed mistakes. He couldn't get out of his own way and was making rookie mistakes while being paid a top-dollar contract. According to Pro Football Focus, he was flagged for 13 penalties in 2025, racking up 56 since joining Kansas City in 2023.
Getting rid of Taylor's mistake-filled performances is an addition by subtraction. It's hard to establish an offensive rhythm when Taylor is constantly putting the Chiefs in worse field position.
Looking at Kansas City's offensive line, there is far more clarity to who will start at the tackle position moving into the 2026 season. With Taylor out of the way, it will be Josh Simmons and Jaylon Moore expected to start bookending the offensive line. While both starters have their own set of concerns, neither inspires the frustration or penalty issues that came with Taylor as a starter.
The former Florida Gator allowed 15 sacks across three seasons with the Chiefs and didn't offer much help in terms of run support, finishing with PFF run-block grades of 42.6, 57.3, and 43.8.
For the Chiefs, it is impossible not to be excited by the franchise finally parting ways with the struggling lineman. Some teams aren't good fits for certain players and vice versa. That's especially true here, with Kansas City having Super Bowl aspirations (again) while Taylor is in dire need of a fresh start in a low-stakes environment.
While there is still a lot of work to be done in the offseason ahead, K.C. fans should be thrilled that Taylor is no longer a problem. His overdue exit will have a multi-layered impact on the Chiefs' 2026 outlook, which has already begun with Walker's signing earlier this week.
Taylor's departure is a clear-cut win for the franchise, opening the door for the Chiefs to benefit even more from that decision in the coming weeks.