Chiefs sign Jawaan Taylor

[RunKC]

4 year $80 million. $20 million

Former Jaguars’ OT Jawaan Taylor reached agreement on a four-year, $80 million deal, including $60M gtd, with the KC Chiefs, per sources. Deal negotiated and confirmed by Drew Rosenhaus and Robert Bailey. pic.twitter.com/jm0XYJUtTy

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 13, 2023

[htismaqe]

I'm past being emotional about this stuff. Seems like it's a high upside, somewhat risky strategy but they were getting nowhere with OBJ. I kind of like the move myself.

[Wisconsin_Chief]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

I'm past being emotional about this stuff. Seems like it's a high upside, somewhat risky strategy but they were getting nowhere with OBJ. I kind of like the move myself.

It really was a total Veach move. It's outside the box and could end up being a huge steal. When you look at the other options, this really was the best compromise. The longer it sits, the more I like it. At the very worst, you can always move him back to RT so the bust factor is pretty slim, but I don't even think we need to worry about it.

This is why he's the best of the best.

[Megatron96]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

I'm past being emotional about this stuff. Seems like it's a high upside, somewhat risky strategy but they were getting nowhere with OBJ. I kind of like the move myself.

I do as well. Taylor is obviously much more athletic than OBJ, neither have shown a lot of strength. But it's easier to get stronger than it is to get quicker. And Taylor might already be as strong or stronger than OBJ. OBJ was known for being one of the weakest OTs in the draft at the Combine that year. iirc.

And athleticism is a more valuable trait than raw size or strength on Andy's OL. So is pass pro, and Taylor looks better at that as well.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

I'm past being emotional about this stuff. Seems like it's a high upside, somewhat risky strategy but they were getting nowhere with OBJ. I kind of like the move myself.

Same

I think they really wanted to be just done with OBJ. Let him to find his money elsewhere.

[Balto]

Originally Posted by Megatron96

I do as well. Taylor is obviously much more athletic than OBJ, neither have shown a lot of strength. But it's easier to get stronger than it is to get quicker. And Taylor might already be as strong or stronger than OBJ. OBJ was known for being one of the weakest OTs in the draft at the Combine that year. iirc.

And athleticism is a more valuable trait than raw size or strength on Andy's OL. So is pass pro, and Taylor looks better at that as well.

Ouch OBJ only has 14 bench reps at his combine.

[Megatron96]

Originally Posted by Balto

Ouch OBJ only has 14 bench reps at his combine.

Yeah. As an OU fan I knew OBj was pretty weak for his size and position. It was weird to all of us (my friends from HS, all OU fans). Dude's huge, how can he be so weak?

Tbf, I think he did better across the board at his pro day. But not stunningly better. He's just not much of an athlete, and I think his ceiling in that regard, well, I think we're looking at it.

[Wisconsin_Chief]

Originally Posted by O.city

Same

I think they really wanted to be just done with OBJ. Let him to find his money elsewhere.

I’ve said all along I don’t think they were serious about keeping him, they knew his price was going nowhere but up (in his deranged mind) and once they said they weren’t franchising him it’s clear they had this Taylor deal in the works the whole time.

I’m sure they made him an offer they knew he wouldn’t accept and then quickly turned their attention to their #1 target.

[Balto]

Originally Posted by Wisconsin_Chief

I’ve said all along I don’t think they were serious about keeping him, they knew his price was going nowhere but up (in his deranged mind) and once they said they weren’t franchising him it’s clear they had this Taylor deal in the works the whole time.

I’m sure they made him an offer they knew he wouldn’t accept and then quickly turned their attention to their #1 target.

I wonder IF Veach wasn't so rushed by the contract issues with OBJ Last offseason if he would of went after a guy like Armstead that signed with the Phins for 5 years at $75M.

[Pitt Gorilla]

Originally Posted by Kman34

This gives us so much flexibility.. If a good left tackle falls to us at 31 we can draft him and leave Taylor at right T.. A good right T falls draft him and Taylor is left T.. Plug him in at left and play Niang at right.. Draft best available…

Taylor was a 2nd round pick (IIRC) and Brown was a 3rd. There will be tackles available at 31.

[Pitt Gorilla]

Originally Posted by RealSNR

WuT iF hEEz a RiTe tAcKle and tOOny pLaYs LefT tAcKle

I want zero part of moving Thuney. However, there probably should be some concern about moving Taylor to LT. OBJ was a pro-bowler at both RT and LT (IIRC) when we got him and Taylor hasn't made a single one.

[Wisconsin_Chief]

Originally Posted by Pitt Gorilla

I want zero part of moving Thuney. However, there probably should be some concern about moving Taylor to LT. OBJ was a pro-bowler at both RT and LT (IIRC) when we got him and Taylor hasn't made a single one.

Brown has name recognition and has played for the Ravens (when they were still somewhat hyped) and Chiefs.

Taylor has been rotting in Jacksonville for 4 years. That makes a big difference.

[ChiefaRoo]

Originally Posted by Pitt Gorilla

I want zero part of moving Thuney. However, there probably should be some concern about moving Taylor to LT. OBJ was a pro-bowler at both RT and LT (IIRC) when we got him and Taylor hasn't made a single one.

He’s only 25

[kccrow]

Sat thinking on this move a bit and here's where I'm at...

I'm giddy if this guy is the RT. I don't even have a problem with the contract if he's a RT. The better RTs in the league are at 18-19.5 per now. It's not beyond reason to pay one 20 per. Taylor has ascended in his play every year and looks like a guy ready to become dominant at his position. I mocked him as a RT signing at the turn of the New Year and I still feel incredibly good about him as a player. I had the money lower (5/87) but making the jump from 17.5 to 20.0 isn't all that absurd.

I'm not as giddy if he was signed to be the LT. I'm a bit hopeful he's the RT. If he ends up LT then so be it, I'll trust Reid, but I don't think it's going to be as good as if he were playing RT. He moves well and he does all the things Reid asks from his tackles but he's really only done it from the right side in his entire career. It's okay to have a really good RT and limp a bit at LT too. I said all along, or at least I think I did, that it would be best if Patrick knew where pressure had the most potential to come from. I think keeping Taylor at RT is the best thing for Taylor and it helps Mahomes. I don't want to go into another season wondering which side the pressure will come from, and worse both.

I think the jury is out on where he plays and the jury is most definitely out yet on what Veach intends to do for the remainder of the offseason and in the draft. I'm not ruling it a certainty that Taylor plays LT. I don't think it should be a certainty just yet. Let things play out more.

If Veach can fill some holes here in FA that the Chiefs have at NT, ER, and WR, even if it means moving money around with Kelce and Mahomes, then do it and head into this thing with a balls-deep approach. Go up and get yourself Broderick Jones at LT. Don't rule out trading for Tunsil. The Chiefs might lose Thuney next season as a result, but I think Tunsil and Taylor as bookends would trump losing Thuney. I love Thuney, but he'll be 32 and you can get exceptional guards in rounds 2 to 4. I would even draft his heir this year. I think guys like Tyler Steen or Braeden Daniels will be had in the late 3rd or in a move in the early 4th.

[JPH83]

Originally Posted by kccrow

Sat thinking on this move a bit and here's where I'm at...

I'm giddy if this guy is the RT. I don't even have a problem with the contract if he's a RT. The better RTs in the league are at 18-19.5 per now. It's not beyond reason to pay one 20 per. Taylor has ascended in his play every year and looks like a guy ready to become dominant at his position. I mocked him as a RT signing at the turn of the New Year and I still feel incredibly good about him as a player. I had the money lower (5/87) but making the jump from 17.5 to 20.0 isn't all that absurd.

I'm not as giddy if he was signed to be the LT. I'm a bit hopeful he's the RT. If he ends up LT then so be it, I'll trust Reid, but I don't think it's going to be as good as if he were playing RT. He moves well and he does all the things Reid asks from his tackles but he's really only done it from the right side in his entire career. It's okay to have a really good RT and limp a bit at LT too. I said all along, or at least I think I did, that it would be best if Patrick knew where pressure had the most potential to come from. I think keeping Taylor at RT is the best thing for Taylor and it helps Mahomes. I don't want to go into another season wondering which side the pressure will come from, and worse both.

I think the jury is out on where he plays and the jury is most definitely out yet on what Veach intends to do for the remainder of the offseason and in the draft. I'm not ruling it a certainty that Taylor plays LT. I don't think it should be a certainty just yet. Let things play out more.

If Veach can fill some holes here in FA that the Chiefs have at NT, ER, and WR, even if it means moving money around with Kelce and Mahomes, then do it and head into this thing with a balls-deep approach. Go up and get yourself Broderick Jones at LT. Don't rule out trading for Tunsil. The Chiefs might lose Thuney next season as a result, but I think Tunsil and Taylor as bookends would trump losing Thuney. I love Thuney, but he'll be 32 and you can get exceptional guards in rounds 2 to 4. I would even draft his heir this year. I think guys like Tyler Steen or Braeden Daniels will be had in the late 3rd or in a move in the early 4th.

Yeah I don't think I'm far off. I don't know if he's worth that as a RT though, I don't think he's exactly elite...yet. If he balls out at LT and offers similar pass protection it's a slam dunk. If he continues at RT to offer the same protection I think it's an obvious upgrade at the position but LT could be a rough patch for awhile.If rhe worst we've got is a good but slightly overpaid RT then it's not a disaster.

[RealSNR]

Lol I'm gonna catch such shit for this. Whatever. Here it goes:

Don't forget about Niang. If he's cooked, then he's cooked, and the Chiefs would have a much better idea of that than we do. But if they determine it's just some bad luck and they think he can play and not get hurt... I mean, the Chiefs did have plans for him playing both left and right tackle, and he's had several years' experience working with the coaches and whatnot. They had some pretty big plans for him in 2021 until the injury.

It could very well be that the Chiefs got Taylor just to say, "Look, we've got one of the tackles locked down. We're not sure if that's going to be the left or the right side. It depends on how well Taylor does on the left and also who we draft and what the current guys on the roster end up doing."

Just throwing shit at the wall, here. Flame away. I know how half the board hates Niang's guts and thinks he's a pussy, but you're going to hold that opinion no matter how much Niang might possibly impress the coaches, so there you have it.