Chiefs: NFL analyst recommends one player to watch during 2023 OTAs
The Kansas City Chiefs have one of their more important OTAs in recent history, and it's all because of one player we expect to see. The Chiefs have had quite the eventful offseason thus far, where this one has had a bit more drama than maybe any offseason in some time, outside of last year […]
The Kansas City Chiefs have one of their more important OTAs in recent history, and it's all because of one player we expect to see.
The Chiefs have had quite the eventful offseason thus far, where this one has had a bit more drama than maybe any offseason in some time, outside of last year when they traded away Tyreek Hill.
This offseason didn't feature anything of the magnitude of trading away a superstar player, but it still had some things happen that could greatly impact the future of this potential dynasty.
One thing that caught everyone's eye was the Chiefs letting their pro bowl left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. walk, instead of offering him an extension or even franchise-tagging him like most thought they would. Instead, they let him walk and signed Jawaan Taylor, the right tackle on the Jacksonville Jaguars.
But there was a catch: They signed the man to play left tackle with no left tackle experience hardly at all. That was what looked to be a good move, but a great one if the position transition works out.
But the one thing that added another layer of drama and confusion is when they signed left tackle Donovan Smith, who doesn't play right tackle, and has a ton of experience playing on the left side.
All of that to say, it will be interesting to see how the two line up with certain groups. With the starters, does Taylor run the left or the right side, and same with Smith? That's why one NFL analyst named Taylor is a guy you have to watch in OTAs coming up this week.
Kansas City Chiefs: OT Jawaan Taylor
As Kansas City comes off of another Super Bowl victory, protecting Patrick Mahomes remains chief priority. That led to the signing of Taylor in free agency. Will he play right tackle, where he has spent much of his career, or left tackle to replace the departed Orlando Brown Jr.? Taylor, who played four seasons for the Jaguars, aims to answer that question this offseason. –Mike Jones, PFF
The Chiefs' offensive line will likely still be one of the best regardless of what they end up doing, so there isn't a whole lot of worry there. Worst case scenario, they paid a right tackle, left tackle money, to play right tackle, and have an average or below average left tackle in Smith, similar to last season with Brown.
So, I wouldn't be too worried about the situation. But it is still something to watch, because the way everything happened was very confusing, to say the least. The Chiefs don't make dumb moves very often if at all though, so let's just go ahead and assume they know what they are doing.
