Chiefs Star Jawaan Taylor Released in $20M Decision That Reshapes Patrick Mahomes’ Protection Plan

Kansas City, MO — The Chiefs are tearing down and rebuilding on the fly. Less than a month after a stunning 6-11 season that kept them out of the postseason for the first time in the Patrick Mahomes era, the front office has informed starting right tackle Jawaan Taylor that he will be released before the March 11 start of the new league year, a maneuver that will instantly create $20 million in salary-cap space, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Taylor, 28, signed a four-year, $80 million deal in 2023 and was scheduled to count $27.4 million against the cap in 2026. The Chiefs could still explore a trade, but league sources believe the market will be tepid after a 2025 season in which Taylor started 12 games before a severe elbow/triceps injury in Week 13 against Dallas landed him on injured reserve. Even prior to the injury, Taylor’s play was marred by repeated pre-snap mistakes; he led the NFL with seven penalties through the first three weeks alone, most for holding and false starts.

Head coach Andy Reid acknowledged the issue publicly, noting that Taylor’s pass-protection grades were strong when flags weren’t flying. “When he doesn't have the penalties, the percentages have been good,” Reid said. “So, you know, you could argue he’s one of the better tackles in his pass-protection game.”

Mahomes offered a blunter assessment in September 2023 after Taylor drew two illegal-formation penalties for lining up well behind the line of scrimmage. “It’s wild to me,” Mahomes said at the time. “When you go back and look at the tablet, they’re both in the exact same spot … he’s no deeper than any other tackle in the league.”

The release continues an aggressive cap-clearing push that began with a restructure of Mahomes’ own contract earlier this month, a deal that freed more than $43 million. Kansas City now heads toward free agency with renewed flexibility and a glaring hole along an offensive line charged with keeping its franchise quarterback upright in what the organization hopes will be a swift return to contention.