Kansas City Chiefs Training Camp Preview: Veteran starter finds himself under the most pressure to perform in 2025
The Kansas City Chiefs will begin training camp at Missouri Western University in six days. Many players will feel the pressure to perform as they vie for a spot on the 53-man roster. Among those feeling the most pressure is a veteran who has never missed a start for K.C. RT Jawaan Taylor is under […]
The Kansas City Chiefs will begin training camp at Missouri Western University in six days.
Many players will feel the pressure to perform as they vie for a spot on the 53-man roster. Among those feeling the most pressure is a veteran who has never missed a start for K.C.
RT Jawaan Taylor is under most pressure to perform in 2025
Taylor is entering his third season with the Chiefs after signing a four-year, $80 million contract with them in 2023. While he hasn't played at a Pro Bowl level, he's been solid overall during his tenure in K.C. Penalties have been a bit of an issue with him, specifically false starts.
Taylor's quick first step off the line of scrimmage has been under scrutiny each of the past two years, and there hasn't been a lot of consistency from NFL officials on when to flag him for a false start or not. Here's what Taylor said back in February when asked if he feels singled out over it since many other lineman across the league also do it.
"I'm not sure, man," Taylor said. "Maybe because it's bigger games and stuff like that. I'm not sure, but I just try to make sure I fixed it and get better with it as well."
Taylor has also racked up many illegal formation penalties, as he sometimes lines up too far back off the line of scrimmage. In 2024 he recorded a solid 70.8 pass blocking grade from Pro Football Focus, but left a lot to be desired as a run blocker with a poor 56.6 grade.
Taylor's inconsistencies have put him on the hot seat in 2025. He is a big-time cut candidate for the Chiefs in 2026, as they could save around $20 million by parting ways with him. An NFL insider recently suggested that newly acquired offensive tackle Jaylon Moore could switch to the right side and push Taylor for his starting role.
If Taylor can fend off Moore, he's going to have to put together the best season of his career in 2025 if he wants to stick around in 2026. Part of that will require staying healthy, as he has spent most of the offseason rehabbing from a knee injury that he dealt with throughout last season.
