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There is only one week left until the NFL’s free agency period begins to unfold with the legal-tampering window opening next Monday, the 9th. On Wednesday, teams like the Kansas City Chiefs will need to be cap-compliant, so it was refreshing to see a big, expected move take care of that this morning.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported the Chiefs have intentions of releasing starting right tackle Jawaan Taylor before the start of the league year, an action that will garner Kansas City $20 million in cap savings this offseason.
According to Arrowhead Pride staff writer Jared Sapp, the team’s projected cap room should be roughly $10.6 million — based on Spotrac’s numbers — if the team were to officially cut Taylor.
It’s the second cut general manager Brett Veach has made this offseason, following the release of defensive end Mike Danna last week. Veach has likely been active in seeking a trade to get Taylor’s contract off the books, something like the deal the Houston Texans made to send starting offensive tackle Tytus Howard to the Cleveland Browns for a fifth-round pick this morning.
When the move becomes finalized, the Chiefs will be moving forward with Jaylon Moore, Esa Pole, Wanya Morris, Chu Godrick and Ethan Driskell as the in-house tackles outside of left tackle Josh Simmons.
It will be worth monitoring Moore, who is entering the final year of his deal in Kansas City, with a potential cap savings of nearly $8 million if released. It would be smart for the Chiefs to keep him around, but if the team doesn’t, it says a lot about their confidence in replacing Taylor’s starting role this offseason with an external option.
In free agency, there are experienced right tackles like Braden Smith, Trey Pipkins and Jermaine Eluemunor, but it’s worth noting that Kansas City’s ninth-overall selection is in a prime spot to select one of this draft class’s top offensive linemen. The top two tackles of the group both started at right tackle to finish their college careers.
- Francis Mauigoa, Miami
- Spencer Fano, Utah
Both players are being considered to play guard rather than tackle at the NFL level, but the team may have to consider it because the edge rushers and the top, non-premium position players proved themselves in impressive fashion at this weekend’s Combine.
Regardless of how the team moves forward from here, there needs to be a sound, coherent strategy to having a short-term starter to protect quarterback Patrick Mahomes as he recovers from the knee injury, but also a long-term strategy for how to be confident in both tackle spots once again.