Chiefs reportedly plan to release lineman Jawaan Taylor before start of league year if they can't trade him
Chiefs reportedly plan to release lineman Jawaan Taylor before start of league year if they can't trade him
Chris Cwik Mon, March 2, 2026 at 2:11 PM UTC
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In an effort to get under the NFL salary cap ahead of the new league year, the Kansas City Chiefs are reportedly set to part ways with one of their starting offensive linemen. Jawaan Taylor was reportedly informed he would be cut if the team couldn't find a trade partner for Taylor, per ESPN's Adam Schefter.
Taylor, 28, has proved extremely durable over his career, starting 111 games over seven seasons.
The move is essential for the Chiefs, who are currently estimated to be roughly $8.6 million over the 2026 salary cap. The Chiefs can save roughly $20 on the cap by parting ways with Taylor.
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While Kansas City is set to lose a multi-year starter, it might be the ideal time for the team to make the move. Taylor ranked 80th among NFL tackles last season, per Pro Football Focus' metrics. He did miss time with an elbow injury later in the year, though it's unclear if that affected his play before he was lost for the season.
If Taylor can bounce back, he could prove to be a solid contributor with his next team. After being selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft, Taylor did not miss a single regular-season game in his first five seasons in the league. He missed one game with the Chiefs in 2024 before the elbow issue caused him to miss five games last season.
If the Chiefs are going to find a trade partner for Taylor, the team will need to act fast. The new league year is set to begin March 11, giving the team a little over a week to resolve the situation. Given that teams know Taylor is set to become a free agent soon, there might not be much interest in the tackle until he hits the open market.
Source: “AOL Sports”
