What exactly are the KC Chiefs adding in Jawaan Taylor?
By Matt Conner
We sat down with a Jacksonville Jaguars editor to find out more about what the Kansas City Chiefs have added in Jawaan Taylor.
On Monday, the Kansas City Chiefs helped to kick off the tampering period if NFL free agency with a bang with the signing of former Jacksonville Jaguars tackle Jawaan Taylor to a four-year deal. Just like that, the Chiefs had an answer for at least one of their major roster concerns—even if Taylor himself brings up some key questions.
To get a bit of perspective on this latest signing, we decided to speak with Jags expert Carlos Sánchez from our sister site Black and Teal to tell us more about Jawaan Taylor and how he might fare going forward in Kansas City.
Here’s our recent Q&A with Sánchez.
We’d love to get your evaluation of Taylor after watching him on the right side these last few years?
Taylor was highly inconsistent in his first 3 seasons. He gave up an average of 33 total pressures in that span and struggled with penalties. He had to fend off Walker Little in training camp and the battle was close even though Litte had never lined up at right tackle. During the regular season, Taylor said the reason for his improvement was that his dad passed at the beginning of 2022.
Did it help to have Doug Pederson? Do you think so many coaching changes have hindered his development?
I don’t think so because he was inconsistent in his first two seasons with Doug Marrone. His biggest asset going into 2022 was his health. He has never missed a game in the NFL. The Jaguars made him an offer last month but didn’t really try to keep him because they know they have Little and because they would have needed to pay a premium. Honestly, it was expected. He’s an above-average tackle that is getting paid like an elite one.
Were you hoping they would keep him or do the Jags feel good about their tackle situation going forward?
Doug Pederson said at the Scouting Combine that he wanted to keep him but it sounded as if he knew they weren’t going to be able to keep him. More than anything, the Jaguars didn’t have the cap space to re-sign him after going on a spree last year. It’s not a bad signing if he remains at right tackle. The Jaguars paid Cam Robinson last year (3 years, $54 million) and had Walker Little (2nd round pick in 2021) in the wings, so it’s not necessarily a massive loss.
Early reports say the Chiefs play to try him at LT from the start. Any thoughts?
I think he’s an unknown, which makes him a risky signing. Taylor hasn’t lined up at left tackle in years, so paying him retail to move from the right side seems like a bold move.