Report: Chiefs to Sign Jawaan Taylor to Four-Year Deal
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The NFL's 2023 free agency period is picking up considerable speed, as the league's legal tampering period and open negotiation window is open for clubs to speak with representatives for players hitting unrestricted free agency. Very shortly after it was reported by Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team that the Kansas City Chiefs were set to lose right tackle Andrew Wylie to the Washington Commanders on a three-year deal, another piece of news hit the wire.
According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, Kansas City has reached an agreement with former Jacksonville Jaguars offensive tackle Jawaan Taylor on a four-year contract. Schefter says the deal is worth $80 million and includes $60M guaranteed:
Former Jaguars’ OT Jawaan Taylor reached agreement on a four-year, $80 million deal, including $60M gtd, with the KC Chiefs, per sources. Deal negotiated and confirmed by Drew Rosenhaus and Robert Bailey. - Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) on Monday, March 13, 2023 at 1:12 p.m. CT
The initial thought from many was that Taylor would be taking Wylie's spot along the offensive line, but an interesting development was revealed on Monday afternoon. Per James Palmer of NFL Network, the Chiefs are officially moving on from left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. and expect Taylor to take his place and serve as Patrick Mahomes's blindside protector.
Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reported earlier that Houston Texans left tackle Laremy Tunsil was discussed in a potential trade with Kansas City, but the addition of Taylor effectively puts that on the back burner. Albert Breer of The MMQB confirmed the plan of moving Taylor to left tackle.
Taylor, 25, was a second-round pick by Jacksonville back in 2019. He's started every available game in his career thus far, and the 2022-23 campaign was a very solid one for him. Allowing just five sacks and 16 pressures overall (per Pro Football Focus), he did an admirable job protecting up-and-coming quarterback Trevor Lawrence and will now attempt to do the same for Mahomes while potentially switching sides along the line. In return, Taylor receives a hefty payday from Kansas City that checks in below the average annual value of what the franchise offered Brown an offseason ago.
According to Field Yates of ESPN, the breakdown of Taylor's deal with the Chiefs is as follows:
- $18.9M signing bonus
- $1.08M base salary in 2023
- $20K workout bonus in 2023
- $19.5M base salary + $500K workout bonus for 2024-2026
- $20M cash due every year of deal
