Reports: Chiefs to cut OT Jawaan Taylor, save $20M

If shopping right tackle Jawaan Taylor doesn't produce a trade offer, the Kansas City Chiefs are planning to release him to save more than $20 million under the 2026 salary cap, according to multiple reports.

Taylor signed a four-year, $80 million deal when he joined the Chiefs as a free agent in 2023. The 2026 season is the final year of that deal.

The Chiefs were almost $60 million over the projected salary cap when the 2025 season ended. A higher-than-expected cap figure at more than $300 million hasn't eased the burden on general manager Brett Veach.

The Chiefs released defensive end Mike Danna and restructured quarterback Patrick Mahomes' deal in other cap-savings moves with more expected.

Taylor, 28, is likely to be replaced by Jaylon Moore on Kansas City's offensive line.

Taylor was penalized an NFL-high 49 times (41 accepted) across 45 games with the Chiefs.

He has played in 111 games (all starts) with the Jaguars (2019-22) and Chiefs since Jacksonville drafted him in the second round (35th overall) in 2019.