The Kansas City Chiefs are officially just over a week from free agency, but the roster moves have already begun as they look to improve in 2026. The first move came on Monday morning when ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the "Chiefs have informed offensive tackle Jawaan Taylor that he will be released before the start of the league year on March 11, barring a trade."
The move will save the Chiefs $20 million in cap space, but it also leaves Taylor looking for a new team after three seasons in Kansas City. Any tackle that becomes available will have a market in free agency, though, and Taylor may have found his landing spot after the Houston Texans reportedly traded Tytus Howard to the Cleveland Browns, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
A seven-year veteran with 93 career starts under his belt, Howard has been serviceable throughout his career and earned a 62.3 overall grade and allowed 26 pressures and no sacks in 643 pass-blocking snaps, according to Pro Football Focus. The problem was that the Texans did not want to pay him, as he ran out of guaranteed money on his contract.
While the Texans netted a fifth-round pick and Howard got a three-year, $63 million contract extension with the Browns, Houston will need a new right tackle with Trent Brown on his way to free agency, and that could give Taylor his first place to call when he becomes available.
Jawaan Taylor Makes Sense for Texans After Tytus Howard Trade
Like Howard, Taylor has been a serviceable starter throughout his career. However, he also comes with some flaws and a disappointing 2025 season that ended his time in Kansas City. Taylor posted the worst overall grade of his career at 53.3 and played a career-low 760 snaps last season, but he was still serviceable in pass protection with 20 pressures and three sacks allowed on 479 pass-blocking snaps.Â
Penalties have also been a problem, with 13 penalties (three declined) last season and a total of 95 penalties (14 declined) over his seven-year career. But that shouldn’t deter a team like the Texans from pursuing him after trading Howard.
At 28 years old, Taylor could have a case to play a few more seasons, and while he won’t get the $20 million he was scheduled to earn in the final year of his deal, he could still get over $10 million with OverTheCap placing an $11.5 million valuation for his play last season.
Chiefs fans know that Taylor isn’t the perfect offensive tackle, and that’s probably why Kansas City was rumored to be interested in free agent Rasheed Walker during last week’s scouting combine. But the Texans may have boxed themselves in with a draft class that has more projects than Day 1 starters.
Even if it’s to bridge the gap for one year, Taylor makes a lot of sense and could be on his way to Houston.