Former Kansas City Chiefs right tackle Jawaan Taylor
Getty
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - DECEMBER 21: Kareem Hunt #29, Jawaan Taylor #74, Travis Kelce #87, and Mike Caliendo #66 of the Kansas City Chiefs celebrate after Hunt's rushing touchdown in the second quarter of a game against the Houston Texans at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on December 21, 2024 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images)
The Kansas City Chiefs have lost several starters this offseason.
They have signed multiple free agents to replace them, and will continue to replenish their roster with the nine picks they have in the 2026 NFL Draft. On Wednesday yet another former Chiefs starter found a home with a new team.
Former Kansas City Chiefs OT Jawaan Taylor Signs With Atlanta Falcons
According to a report from NFL insider Adam Schefter, the Falcons and Taylor have agreed to a one-year, $5 million contract with an additional $1 million in incentives to potentially be earned.
Adam Schefter
Falcons and former Chiefs free-agent offensive tackle Jawaan Taylor reached agreement today on a one-year deal with a base value of $5 million and an additional $1 million in incentives, per his agents Drew Rosenhaus and Robert Bailey.
The Chiefs released Taylor in early March, which saved them $20 million in salary cap space. Taylor signed a four-year, $80 million contract with Kansas City back in 2023, but did not make it to the final year of the deal. Unfortunately, the Chiefs will not get a compensatory pick for Taylor since he did not play the entirety of his contract.
Taylor made 45 regular season starts during his tenure in Kansas City, as well as seven in the postseason. He missed the final five games of the 2025 season after he was placed on injured reserve with an elbow injury. Taylor was a proficient pass blocker for the Chiefs, but infamously struggled with penalties, particularly with false starts and illegal formations.
The Falcons signed Taylor in the same day that their starting right tackle Kaleb McGary retired. Taylor figures to fill McGary’s void as a starter. In Atlanta Taylor will block for one of the most explosive running backs in the NFL in Bijan Robinson. He will also look to keep third-year quarterback Michael Penix Jr. upright, as Penix looks to take the next step in his development.
Chiefs Still Need to Decide How They Are Going to Replace Jawaan Taylor
Chiefs RT Jawaan Taylor
GettyFormer Chiefs RT Jawaan Taylor
With the draft less than three weeks away, right tackle is among the Chiefs’ biggest remaining roster needs. Where that need ranks against other positions has been hotly debated by fans and experts. Some feel that Kansas City could use one of its two selections in the first round on a right tackle.
In fact, many have the Chiefs taking one as early as the No. 9 overall pick. If they were to do that, their starting offensive line would be complete with Josh Simmons at left tackle, Kingsley Suamataia at left guard, Creed Humphrey at center, Trey Smith at right guard, and their draft pick at right tackle.
That could put Kansas City in contention for the best offensive line in the NFL. However, with four quality starters already in place, is it worth it to use a premium draft pick on a right tackle? Some of the other top roster needs for the Chiefs include edge rusher, wide receiver, and defensive back.
The Chiefs have a couple of in-house options at right tackle in Jaylon Moore and Esa Pole. Moore signed a two-year deal with Kansas City last offseason, and made six starts in place of Simmons in 2025 while he was away from the team with a personal matter. Pole started four games as a rookie last season, also in place of Simmons, who sustained a season-ending wrist injury in Week 13.