Jawaan Taylor Release Rumors: Kansas City Chiefs OT Future?

February 17, 2026 Robert Mitchell News
News Context
At a glance
  • The Kansas City Chiefs are likely to release right tackle Jawaan Taylor, February 16th, according to reports.
  • Taylor signed a four-year, $80 million contract with the Chiefs in 2023 after a successful run with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
  • A key factor in the impending release stems from the structure of Taylor’s contract.
Original source: x.com

Chiefs Poised to Release Right Tackle Jawaan Taylor

The Kansas City Chiefs are likely to release right tackle Jawaan Taylor, , according to reports. The move, anticipated for some time, will free up $20 million in cap space for the team, which is currently projected to be over the salary cap for the season.

Taylor signed a four-year, $80 million contract with the Chiefs in after a successful run with the Jacksonville Jaguars. At the time, he was considered one of the top free agents available, and Kansas City needed to offer a player-friendly deal to secure his services. However, his performance in Kansas City has not met expectations, leading to this decision.

A key factor in the impending release stems from the structure of Taylor’s contract. The Chiefs guaranteed Taylor’s salary in , providing him with three years of financial security. Now that the guaranteed portion of the contract has passed, the team is prepared to move on without incurring further financial penalties.

The Chiefs have not attempted to restructure Taylor’s contract with void years, as doing so would have increased the dead money associated with his release. Currently, the dead money total stands at $7.39 million.

The decision to release Taylor is expected to occur before the start of the legal tampering period on .

Taylor’s tenure with the Chiefs was marked by struggles with penalties, accumulating 40 flags in three seasons. He also faced scrutiny for uncalled false starts, raising concerns about his consistency and discipline.

The Chiefs appear to have a ready-made replacement in Jaylon Moore, who signed a two-year, $30 million contract with the team. Moore’s contract value reportedly surprised even John Lynch, General Manager of the San Francisco 49ers, who described it as a significant investment for a backup player. Moore was called upon to fill in at left tackle last season when Josh Simmons was unexpectedly away from the team, demonstrating his versatility and readiness to contribute.

The release of Taylor comes after the Chiefs’ season ended in without a trip to the AFC Championship Game – a first for the team in recent years. The move signals a clear effort by the organization to address its salary cap situation and rebuild its offensive line for future success.

The situation surrounding Josh Simmons’ return to the team may have also influenced the timing of the decision regarding Taylor, giving the Chiefs further confidence in their tackle depth.