Chiefs Poised to Cut Ties with Penalty-Prone Tackle

Kansas City could save $20 million by parting ways with Jawaan Taylor

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Kansas City Chiefs are expected to part ways with offensive tackle Jawaan Taylor this offseason, a move that could save the team $20 million in salary cap space. Taylor, who has struggled with penalties, is seen as a likely casualty as the Chiefs look to retool their roster after missing the playoffs for the first time in the Patrick Mahomes era.

Why it matters

The Chiefs' offensive line was a weak spot in 2025, with Mahomes being sacked a career-high number of times despite only playing 14 games. Cutting ties with Taylor could allow the team to shore up the offensive line through free agency or internal options like Jaylon Moore and Josh Simmons.

The details

According to The Athletic's Jesse Newell, cutting Taylor "seems like a formality" for the Chiefs, who can save $20 million against the salary cap by moving on from the oft-penalized 28-year-old tackle. The team has in-house options to replace Taylor, with Jaylon Moore potentially sliding over and Josh Simmons taking over at left tackle.

  • The Chiefs missed the playoffs for the first time in the Patrick Mahomes era in 2025.

The players

Patrick Mahomes

The Chiefs' star quarterback who was sacked a career-high number of times in 2025 despite only playing 14 games.

Jawaan Taylor

The Chiefs' offensive tackle who has struggled with penalties and is expected to be cut, saving the team $20 million in salary cap space.

Jaylon Moore

A Chiefs offensive lineman who could potentially slide over to replace Jawaan Taylor.

Josh Simmons

A Chiefs offensive lineman who could potentially take over at left tackle if Jaylon Moore slides over to replace Jawaan Taylor.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“This one seems like a formality at this point. The Chiefs can save $20 million against the cap by cutting the oft-penalized Taylor, who seems destined for a change of scenery at age 28.”

— Jesse Newell, Reporter (The Athletic)

What’s next

The Chiefs will need to determine if their in-house options at offensive line are sufficient to replace Jawaan Taylor, or if they will need to address the position through free agency.

The takeaway

The Chiefs' decision to part ways with Jawaan Taylor highlights the team's need to shore up its offensive line after a disappointing 2025 season. By cutting the penalty-prone tackle, the team can free up significant salary cap space to invest in the trenches and protect their star quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, going forward.