Chiefs Stock Watch, Week 7: Mecole Hardman returns home with a flourish

Stock Up: Jawaan Taylor

I want to shout out to the often-maligned Chiefs right tackle Jawaan Taylor after going through one of the roughest Chiefs debuts on record. It started on the first week of the year being called out on national television for something that nearly every other tackle does and continues on by being called for the most penalties in the league.

While that penalty number remains high due to the sheer volume and scrutiny he had been under, Taylor has since righted the ship. We have not had to call Taylor for much of anything for the past couple of weeks and did not get called for one penalty for the entire game against the Chargers. He was even involved with the go-ahead touchdown at the end of the first half, pushing Kelce across the threshold.

I understand that not being called for a penalty is not something to be celebrated, typically, but I am making an exception in this case. Taylor is an exceptionally talented offensive lineman, and the Chiefs are paying him as such. Now that the NFL has stopped clutching its collective pearls, though Chiefs haters may still be holding on for dear life, Taylor is free to go about his business as every other tackle does. Taylor also did not allow a sack all afternoon despite being matched up with All-Pro defensive ends Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack.

The play of Jawaan Taylor will be crucial in how far the Chiefs will go toward their goal as repeat Super Bowl champions. If he continues trending the way he has been, it will be incredibly challenging to get in the Chiefs' way.