The Kansas City Chiefs are making a $27 million decision that will directly change who protects Patrick Mahomes next season. One of the biggest moves, parting ways with right tackle Jawaan Taylor, has effectively cleared the path for Jaylon Moore to step into the starting role at right tackle in 2026.

According to ESPN’s Nate Taylor, the expectation is that Moore will open the 2026 season as the Chiefs’ starting right tackle, replacing Taylor, who spent the past three seasons in Kansas City.

This opportunity doesn’t exactly come out of nowhere. When the Chiefs signed Moore last offseason to a two-year, $30 million deal, the belief was that he would compete for, if not outright claim, a starting left tackle job in 2025. The plan, at least initially, pointed in that direction.

But then Kansas City drafted Josh Simmons in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Simmons impressed quickly and ultimately secured the starting role, protecting Patrick Mahomes’ blind side. He started eight games as a rookie and flashed legitimate upside.

However, circumstances shifted when Simmons stepped away due to an undisclosed family matter. That’s when Moore was inserted into the lineup at left tackle, and he held his own. The 28-year-old appeared in 15 games and made six starts in Simmons’ absence.

Statistically, the performance was steady but not dominant. Moore posted a 57.1 pass-blocking grade and a 62.9 run-blocking grade. Across 427 total snaps (283 at left tackle and 132 at right tackle), he allowed three sacks and 27 pressures. Those numbers aren’t elite, but they’re serviceable, especially considering the context.

One detail that stands out: discipline. Unlike Taylor, Moore went the entire 2025 season without being penalized. For a Chiefs offensive line that has dealt with costly flags in recent years, that reliability matters.

So while Moore may not project as a Pro Bowl-caliber tackle, the combination of financial flexibility, positional experience, and cleaner execution likely made the decision easier. With Taylor gone ahead of free agency, Kansas City appears comfortable handing Moore the right tackle job entering 2026.

The Chiefs tackled Jawaan Taylor’s $27M headache

We all saw this coming. The Chiefs’ manipulation of the roster to create flexibility ahead of the new league year isn’t surprising. It’s standard operating procedure. Despite entering the offseason with more than $57 million in cap space, Kansas City has been proactive in reshaping the books.

They already released veteran defensive end Mike Danna and restructured Patrick Mahomes’ contract last month to generate additional room. Now comes the next expected move. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Chiefs informed Jawaan Taylor that he will be released before the start of the new league year, barring a trade.

Taylor was scheduled to carry a $27 million cap hit in 2026. By moving on from the 28-year-old, Kansas City clears roughly $20 million. It’s a significant financial reset, especially considering the Chiefs signed him to a four-year, $80 million deal in 2023.

This decision isn’t purely about numbers. Taylor’s play was serviceable during his three seasons in Kansas City, but discipline remained a persistent issue. He committed 49 penalties (41 accepted) across 45 games with the Chiefs, the highest total of any offensive lineman in that span. That volume of flags inevitably draws scrutiny.

Now, Taylor heads into 2026 free agency looking for a new landing spot. As for Kansas City, the expectation is that Jaylon Moore steps in to help protect Mahomes. Even so, it wouldn’t be surprising if the Chiefs continue to explore upgrades through free agency or the draft to reinforce the offensive line.