Missing the playoffs after nearly a decade of dominance was a tough pill to swallow, but it can also be a blessing in disguise for the Kansas City Chiefs. They can't hide their flaws anymore, and GM Brett Veach will just have to get to work.
Notably, that means giving Patrick Mahomes the surrounding cast he needs. And, after years of watching him set the offense back, that might mean finally parting ways with the ever-struggling Jawaan Taylor.
Jawaan Taylor Has Run Out of Chances in Kansas City
Jawaan Taylor's never-ending issues with penalties constantly held the team back. He was the co-leader in penalties again this season (13), with half of his flags being before the snap, according to NFL Penalties data. That's simply not sustainable, as Taylor even had one more flag than games played this season (12). Even Travis Kelce got in his face once to try to make him snap out of it, to no avail.
While Pro Football Focus grades don't always tell the full story, Taylor's case is pretty evident. He ranked 72nd among 83 eligible tackles (53.3), struggling mightily in run-block situations (43.8, the third-lowest grade in the league) and being just average in pass-block snaps (63.3, 46th out of 83). He only gave up three sacks, but he cost his team yards way too often.
Of course, the Chiefs could do a whole lot worse than that, but we're talking about a player who's making $20 million a year and is signed through the 2026 season. The Chiefs are projected to be $44 million over the salary cap next season, and moving on from him would be a nice way to shed some money off the books.
To add insult to injury, Taylor was placed on season-ending Injured Reserve (IR) with an elbow injury. He wasn't there to help the team keep the season alive, but they certainly didn't miss him after he had to leave the field.
The Chiefs should be all set at left tackle with Josh Simmons. Undrafted rookie Esa Pole has looked solid in limited snaps, and they could also look to address that position in the NFL Draft. Whatever the case, the writing is on the wall for Taylor to be on his way out.
This team has always gotten back on its feet after tough losses, and this season shouldn't be the exception to that rule. That, however, will all depend on the moves Brett Veach can make and how Andy Reid can reshape his coaching staff.