Jawaan Taylor signing draws mostly positive reviews on Twitter
By Matt Conner
The Kansas City Chiefs signed offensive tackle Jawaan Taylor to a big-money deal in free agency and the responses on Twitter were mostly positive.
While everyone was busy talking about Orlando Brown Jr. or Laremy Tunsil as potential answers for the Kansas City Chiefs offensive tackle concerns, general manager Brett Veach was taking a look at Jawaan Taylor all along. In the end, he landed his free agent prize with a four-year deal worth up to $80 million on Monday.
The signing brought a lot of question marks at first because it seemed as if the Chiefs were spending left tackle money at right tackle, but it was quickly reported from several sources that the Chiefs would try Taylor on the left side instead, plugging the void left by Brown’s imminent departure.
First, Taylor was quick to introduce himself to Chiefs Kingdom on Twitter.
Chiefs Kingdom! 🗣️🙌🏽
— Jawaan M. Taylor ♛ (@jawaan_taylor74) March 13, 2023
A lot of the early reviews on Twitter are positive even as they’re also cautiously optimistic.
https://twitter.com/zackeisen21/status/163534377413733580
HE IS A BAD MAN
— Rise & Grind Training (@RiseandGrindOP) March 4, 2023
Jawaan Taylor (@jawaan_taylor74) has been hard at work this off-season.
Just wrapped up Week 3 of his Off-Season strength and conditioning training. #NFL #jaguars #DUUUVAL pic.twitter.com/dzsv0sgQMJ
https://twitter.com/JeffKerrCBS/status/1635344719764140033df
Jawaan Taylor is one of the handful of best pure humans I've covered. What a life changing contract for him.
— John Shipley (@_John_Shipley) March 13, 2023
Jawaan Taylor, Joe Thuney, Creed Humphrey, Trey Smith and an average right tackle with a pulse is ELITE.
— Adam Best (@Arrowhead_Adam) March 13, 2023
Veach found a similar pass protector for probably 75-80% of what Orlando Brown Jr. Will cost.
Here’s an early draft report from our friends at KC Sports Network.
Here's our write up on new Chiefs left tackle Jawaan Taylor from 2019 in the first edition of the KC Draft Guide.
— Kent Swanson (@kent_swanson) March 13, 2023
He carried a first round grade for us. Was a low fit back when the Chiefs had Eric Fisher locked up there. pic.twitter.com/hSaxHEnFsB
Some of the money could look a lot better if Taylor is able to make it work on the left side. In fact, Matt Derrick said it could be a Moneyball situation:
Chiefs GM Brett Veach would seem to be playing his own version of Moneyball. Acquire a high-end RT and move him to LT for less money than a high-end LT. Did it with Orlando Brown, now trying it with Jawaan Taylor.
— Matt Derrick (@mattderrick) March 13, 2023
If Taylor does stay on the left side, NFL analyst Jordan Reid has an idea of where the Chiefs could go next for further help at tackle.
With Jawaan Taylor possible sliding over to LT, one fit I love for the #Chiefs at No. 31 overall? Dawand Jones. We’ll see if he’s available, but it makes a lot of sense.
— Jordan Reid (@Jordan_Reid) March 13, 2023
No one should be surprised by the Chiefs signing a tackle like Taylor or at a price tag so high. Remember the Chiefs’ previous chases at the position include a blockbuster trade for Orlando Brown Jr. and a failed pursuit of Trent Williams in free agency. As our own Adam Best reminded us:
The Chiefs front office does not fuck around when it comes to protecting their half-billion-dollar quarterback.
— Adam Best (@Arrowhead_Adam) March 13, 2023