The Kansas City Chiefs have decided on whether they will release starting right tackle Jawaan Taylor ahead of NFL free agency. Insiders reported the news on the morning of March 2.
“Chiefs have informed OT Jawaan Taylor that he will be released before the start of the league year, barring a trade, per sources,” ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter relayed on X. He added that “Taylor’s release will save the Chiefs $20 million under the cap.”
Taylor’s release will save the Chiefs $20 million under the cap.
This news was also confirmed by NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport, who noted that “Taylor’s absence creates breathing room.”
A trade partner is not expected to emerge due to Taylor’s cap hit. So, the end result will likely be a pre-June 1 release on March 12.
Jawaan Taylor News Finally Drops as Chiefs Get Cap-Compliant Before NFL Free Agency
GettyKansas City Chiefs offensive tackle Jawaan Taylor will be released ahead of NFL free agency.
The Chiefs cut their cap deficit from over $50 million to approximately $5.664 million by coming to an agreement on a contract restructure with superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes and releasing defensive end Mike Danna. However, general manager Brett Veach and head coach Andy Reid still needed to clear up some more room.
After the Taylor release, Kansas City will officially be cap-compliant. Meaning they will get themselves out of the negative ahead of the new league year.
Based on simple math, the Chiefs will have about $14.336 million in available cap space after this move. But there could be more coming.
KC has several holes to fill as it reshapes its roster, and Veach generally wants to have positions shored up before the NFL draft. The Chiefs always talk about adding to what they have in April, but the goal is to have a capable roster after free agency.
In order to achieve that goal, Kansas City will likely need a lot more cap space than $14 million-plus.
Trading Jawaan Taylor Would Not Save the Chiefs More Money Than a Release
As Schefter noted, this release has been finalized, “barring a trade.” NFL teams generally leave the trade option open-ended for any potential suitors, although this rarely works out with expensive players.
Having said that, offensive tackle is a difficult position to find, so it’s not out of the realm of possibility that a desperate franchise offers the Chiefs some sort of late-round draft compensation.
In fact, just after the Taylor news, the Cleveland Browns traded a fifth-round pick for right tackle Tytus Howard, per Rapoport. So, teams are always looking for offensive linemen.
In the unlikely event that a trade occurs, Kansas City would still save $20 million in cap space. According to Over the Cap, there is no difference in savings if Taylor is traded or released.
With Taylor off the roster, the Chiefs will presumably promote Jaylon Moore into the starting five, with Josh Simmons at left tackle and Moore on the right. Prospect Esa Pole also flashed late in the season as a potential swing tackle behind Simmons and Moore.
Both Simmons and Pole were rookies in 2025, so their development — not to mention getting Pole back from the New York Jets — was paramount in this decision. Without it, Kansas City might not have had enough confidence in its blocking unit to move on from Taylor.
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