This spring, the Kansas City Chiefs made a significant personnel change in front of Patrick Mahomes. Orlando Brown Jr. left in free agency. In his place came offensive tackle Jawaan Taylor, formerly of the Jacksonville Jaguars, on a four-year, $80 million contract that made him one of the highest paid blockers in the NFL.
The move hasn’t worked out the way the Chiefs have hoped. Taylor earned just a 52.7 grade from Pro Football Focus in the team’s Week 1 loss to the Detroit Lions. In Week 2, with a return to Jacksonville and a chance to show out against his old team on the line, Taylor was even worse. He racked up four penalties in fewer than three quarters — then wound up conspicuously absent from the game for Kansas City’s next drive.
The Chiefs benched Jawaan Taylor after his fourth penalty.
— Michael DiRocco (@ESPNdirocco) September 17, 2023
Two holds, an illegal formation and a false start cost the Chiefs 28 yards in an important showdown with the reigning AFC South champions. While it’s not a certainty Taylor’s removal was a direct outcome of his play, the cause and effect makes sense. The prized right tackle was seen on the sideline talking with offensive line coach Andy Heck before returning to the game one drive later.
Whether his removal was punitive or simply a reset won’t be cleared up until head coach Andy Reid’s postgame press conference, but it didn’t go unnoticed. Fans, analysts and veterans shared their concerns and criticism, 10 days after Taylor ignited another football argument with his penchant for lining up on the border of the line of scrimmage and backfield in order to slow the Lions’ pass rush.
Jawaan Taylor has now been called for four penalties (illegal formation, false start, holding, holding). All legit.
— Matt Verderame (@MattVerderame) September 17, 2023
Lotta Bears fans wanted Ryan Poles to pay a lot of money for Jawaan Taylor
Grass isn’t always greener https://t.co/tM2BmXAbkF
— Lorin Cox (@CoxSports1) September 17, 2023
Jawaan Taylor today pic.twitter.com/mdifKqtaIW
— Adam Best (@Arrowhead_Adam) September 17, 2023
Feels like the league was instructed to make an example of Jawaan Taylor today.
— Chris (@chiefs_outsider) September 17, 2023
I'm not sure I've ever seen this before with the Chiefs, getting pulled mid drive as an OL. Let alone as a starter and the highest paid guy on the line. I'm guessing he comes out next drive and that's that, but I'm very surprised right now.
— Mitchell Schwartz (@MitchSchwartz71) September 17, 2023
Figured he’d be back. Less of a “benching” if you wanted to use that terminology and more of a breather/reset. For an OL who relies on space and timing who’s being forced to change his alignment and cadence timing, it’s hard. An uncomfortable feeling and messes with confidence.
— Mitchell Schwartz (@MitchSchwartz71) September 17, 2023
.@chiefs benched their right tackle in a middle of a drive. Jawaan Taylor was supposed to be their answer at RT
— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) September 17, 2023
This is wild. It looks like they just pulled Jawaan Taylor in a game where they didn’t even activate Niang or Morris. (I don’t think that last one was a hold either.)
— Joshua Brisco (@jbbrisco) September 17, 2023
$40M fully guaranteed #Chiefs https://t.co/SoXTYrsCxP
— Jason_OTC (@Jason_OTC) September 17, 2023
I can’t believe every team in the NFL cried about what Jawaan Taylor has been doing for years now and suddenly they’re gonna start calling penalties.
— Andrew (@AndrewSpruill_) September 17, 2023
Is Jawaan Taylor a double agent?
— s🏈lls (@sollpaper) September 17, 2023
Honestly, I’m not mad abt the Jawaan Taylor move, although must be pretty humiliating for him w it happening in Jax & all. But we got a game to win!! Let’s 👏🏽 go👏🏽!!
— Lisa_Foxx (@MediaFoxx) September 17, 2023
