For way too long, Jawaan Taylor had become a headache for the Kansas City Chiefs. As much as Andy Reid claimed he was an elite pass-protector when he wasn't false-starting (which wasn't often), he was average at best.
Cutting ties with Taylor was the easiest offseason decision. He was expensive and couldn't stop drawing flags while costing the team valuable yards. However, letting him go was just the first step; Kansas City still needed to replace him.
The Chiefs didn't do anything to address that position in the offseason, rather than commit to veteran Jaylon Moore. But that decision could come back to haunt this team. That's why Brett Veach should probably consider making a run at Jack Conklin or Jonah Williams, who remain unsigned.
Are we sure Jaylon Moore is the answer at right tackle?
As things stand now, Josh Simmons seems locked in as Patrick Mahomes' blindside protector, and rightfully so. He showed flashes of great play as a rookie, and he can be the team's building block at left tackle for years to come.
However, Moore is far from an etched-in, starting-caliber guy. He's a good rotation piece who can log a start here and there, but trusting him with full-time right tackle duties might be playing with fire, especially with Patrick Mahomes coming off a major injury.
Despite not being a full-time starter last season, Moore still gave up 27 total pressures, two quarterback hits, and three sacks, per PFF. To be fair, he wasn't called for a single penalty, which might be the only thing fans really care about because of Taylor's constant miscues.
Conklin has struggled with injuries for most of his career, but he's been a game-changer when healthy. He's given up two or fewer sacks in five of his seasons as a pro, and he's only given up more than four twice.
Williams, on the other hand, might not be the sturdiest protector, and he was pretty brutal when he first entered the league. While he's faced injury issues as of late, he'd been durable over his first few years in the league and has come a long way from the player who gave up double-digit sacks in 2021 and 2022. He's allowed a total of 12 sacks in the following three years, including zero in 2024 and just four last season.
The Chiefs need to shake things up and, at the very least, add some competition to the mix. Moore can still have a role as one of the first guys off the bench, but he may not be what this team needs to get back to the mountaintop. Patrick Mahomes is their most valuable asset, and they can't leave a stone unturned to make sure he stays unharmed.
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