Chiefs given 'good chance' to cut ties with $80 million flop of a signing

Billy Heyen

•
Chiefs given 'good chance' to cut ties with $80 million flop of a signing image

The Kansas City Chiefs still have a lot to fight for the rest of this season.

They're trying to grab onto a last-ditch playoff spot, but it won't be easy. They're in a worse position than they've been before under Andy Reid with Patrick Mahomes playing QB.

But when this season is over, no matter what happens, it'll be decision time on a number of players.

That includes Jawaan Taylor.

"Taylor signed a four-year, $80 million contract with the Chiefs prior to the 2023 season as part of their effort to shore up the offensive line," ESPN's Dan Graziano wrote on Friday. "He has been their starting right tackle all three seasons since then. But he has also been the most penalized player in the NFL over that span, with 49 (41 accepted) in 45 games. The next-highest penalty total is 37 (Tunsil)."

MORE: LeBron James' 10-point streak ends in the most LeBron James way possible

There's a very real chance the Chiefs cut Taylor loose rather than pay him for the final year of his contract.

"Taylor will have one year and $20 million in non-guaranteed money left on his contract after this season, and the Chiefs will carry about $7.4 million in dead money on their salary cap for next year if they release him -- which feels like it has a good chance to happen," Graziano writes. "Kansas City signed Jaylon Moore in free agency in the 2025 offseason, and he could become the starting right tackle if it moves on from Taylor."

The Chiefs haven't done quite a good enough job in recent years of protecting Mahomes. At times, that has been Taylor's fault.

Kansas City's priority in the offseason ahead should be to reset things in a way that allows Mahomes to be his best self. If that means trying something new at left tackle, then that's what the Chiefs will do.

More news:

Staff Writer