There are very good reasons that the Kansas City Chiefs decided to commit themselves for several seasons at a $20 million annual price tag to offensive tackle Jawaan Taylor. The problem is that it feels like there are 20 million flags involved when he plays as well.
Let's be clear that Chiefs Kingdom has fewer reasons to complain than most fan bases. Consecutive Super Bowls, eight straight AFC West titles, a 4-0 record for now—so we want to keep our complaints in perspective. The Chiefs have a deep, young roster and no team is going to make perfect decisions or have All-Pros at every single position.
That said, $20 million for Jawaan Taylor feels a little funny while watching a game like this.
To Taylor's credit, he's quick off of the line and is a stellar pass protector when doing things right. He also signed at a very young age, and it's easy to see why Brett Veach was enamored with what Taylor could bring to the team. But these penalties are too much.
Through the first two quarters, Taylor has already committed two penalties, including one that robbed Noah Gray of a touchdown catch and forced the Chiefs to settle for a chip shot of a field goal for Harrison Butker—a four-point difference. This came after a false start penalty made a drive that much more difficult for Patrick Mahomes and company just a few minutes earlier.
Last season, in his first year with the Chiefs, Taylor led the NFL in total penalties with 20 that gave up 140 total yards for the Chiefs. That was good for most in the league and it wasn't even close.
After watching even more penalties during the Chiefs' game against the visiting Saints at Arrowhead in another primetime affair, it was clear that Chiefs Kingdom was tired of watching the flags get thrown at Taylor.
Jawaan Taylor has more flags than the United Nations.
— Adam Best (@Arrowhead_Adam) October 8, 2024
#Chiefs RT Jawaan Taylor now has more penalties (27) than combined regular + postseason starts for Kansas City (26). https://t.co/yf2d7z1rCO
— Charles Goldman (@goldmctNFL) October 8, 2024
I’ll say it once again, Jawaan Taylor has the worst contract in the league.
— Mahomes owns your team (@ChiefsSZN15) October 8, 2024
JAWAAN TAYLOR - come TF on man
— how bout those CHIEFS (@hbtCHIEFS) October 8, 2024
Jawaan Taylor leads the NFL in penalties the past 2 years and it’s not even close.
— Chase Daniel (@ChaseDaniel) October 8, 2024
Takes a massive TD off the board…brutal
Jawaan Taylor flag cost us a TD pic.twitter.com/GRJgZze3PJ
— Jordan (@jordanbuff0) October 8, 2024
Chiefs paying that Jawaan Taylor fraud 20 mill a year, to accumulate all these costly penalties is nasty work
— Stackz.LFC (@stackz1shot) October 8, 2024
I wish you could bet on Jawaan Taylor’s penalties. I’d slam the over.
— 🗣🎙‼️ (@LanceTHESPOKEN) October 8, 2024